Key Facts

  • Categorized as a Main-belt Asteroid
  • Comparable in size to the U.S. state of Connecticut (143.35 km diameter)
  • Not a Near Earth Object
  • Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
  • See orbit simulation

Overview

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

Xanthippe orbits the sun every 1,650 days (4.52 years), coming as close as 2.11 AU and reaching as far as 3.34 AU from the sun. Xanthippe is about 143.3 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. state of Connecticut.

The rotation of Xanthippe has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 22.13 hours.

Xanthippe's spectral type C (Tholen) / Ch (SMASSII) indicates that it is likely to contain water, iron, nickel, cobalt, nitrogen, and ammonia.

No Close Approaches

Xanthippe's orbit is 1.11 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

Xanthippe's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 19, 1901. It was last officially observed on July 4, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 10,013 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 Xanthippe:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 2.728 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.2258
  • Inclination: 9.78°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 241.8°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 338.37°
  • Mean Anomaly: 111.71°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 143.34600 km
  • Magnitude: 8.88
  • Albedo: 0.030
  • Spectral type (Tholen): C
  • Spectral type (SMASS): Ch

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 1,650 days (4.52 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 17.99 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 3.34 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 2.11 AU
  • Rotation Period: 22.13 hours
  • Approx. Composition: water, iron, nickel, cobalt, nitrogen, and ammonia.

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Xanthippe 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.