Key Facts

  • Categorized as a Main-belt Asteroid
  • Comparable in size to the U.S. state of Rhode Island (42.37 km diameter)
  • Not a Near Earth Object
  • Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
  • See orbit simulation

Overview

Schalen is a large asteroid orbiting between Mars and Jupiter in the main portion of the asteroid belt. NASA JPL has not classified Schalen as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.

Schalen orbits the sun every 1,990 days (5.45 years), coming as close as 2.73 AU and reaching as far as 3.46 AU from the sun. Schalen is about 42.4 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. state of Rhode Island.

The rotation of Schalen has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 7.52 hours.

Schalen's spectral type None (Tholen) / D (SMASSII) indicates that it is likely to contain .

No Close Approaches

Schalen's orbit is 1.73 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is an extremely wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.

Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.

Images and Observations

Schalen's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Nov. 14, 1898. It was last officially observed on July 4, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 4,311 observations used to determine its orbit.

Accessibility and Exploration

This asteroid is not considered a viable target for human exploration by the NHATS study.

Similar Objects

These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of Schalen:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 3.095 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.1185
  • Inclination: 2.77°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 211.62°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 163.59°
  • Mean Anomaly: 0.41°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 42.37400 km
  • Magnitude: 10.62
  • Albedo: 0.068
  • Spectral type (SMASS): D

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 1,990 days (5.45 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 16.92 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 3.46 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 2.73 AU
  • Rotation Period: 7.52 hours
  • Approx. Composition: .

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Schalen is indicated by a ◯ pink circle. Note that the object may not be in your current field of view. Use the controls below to adjust position, location, and time.