Key Facts

  • Categorized as a Jupiter Trojan
  • Comparable in size to the U.S. state of Rhode Island (57.34 km diameter)
  • Not a Near Earth Object
  • Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
  • See orbit simulation

Overview

Iphthime is a large asteroid that shares Jupiter's orbit around the sun. NASA JPL has not classified Iphthime as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.

Iphthime orbits the sun every 4,300 days (11.77 years), coming as close as 4.82 AU and reaching as far as 5.54 AU from the sun. Iphthime is about 57.3 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. state of Rhode Island.

The rotation of Iphthime has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 78.90 hours.

No Close Approaches

Iphthime's orbit is 3.84 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

Iphthime's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Nov. 18, 1974. It was last officially observed on March 9, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 2,573 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 Iphthime:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 5.179 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.07
  • Inclination: 15.04°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 241.53°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 137.47°
  • Mean Anomaly: 66.43°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 57.34100 km
  • Magnitude: 9.98
  • Albedo: 0.065

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 4,300 days (11.77 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 13.10 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 5.54 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 4.82 AU
  • Rotation Period: 78.90 hours

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Iphthime 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.