Nausikaa

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Main-belt Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the U.S. state of Delaware (98.78 km diameter)
• Not a Near Earth Object
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

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

Nausikaa orbits the sun every 1,360 days (3.72 years), coming as close as 1.81 AU and reaching as far as 2.99 AU from the sun. Nausikaa is about 98.8 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. state of Delaware.

The rotation of Nausikaa has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 13.63 hours.

Nausikaa's spectral type S (Tholen) / Sl (SMASSII) indicates that it is likely to contain and .

No Close Approaches

Nausikaa's orbit is 0.82 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a very 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

Nausikaa's orbit is determined by observations dating back to March 27, 1879. It was last officially observed on Jan. 21, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 4,465 observations used to determine its orbit.

Scientists have been able to determine this object's shape:

View asteroid Nausikaa in 3D.

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 Nausikaa:

• 20 Massalia (A852 SA)
• 25 Phocaea (A853 GB)
• 63 Ausonia (A861 CA)

References

• JPL Small Body Database
• Mission Design
• Sky Finder Chart

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Nausikaa 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.