Key Facts

  • Categorized as a Jupiter Trojan
  • Comparable in size to the U.S. state of Rhode Island (66.23 km diameter)
  • Not a Near Earth Object
  • Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
  • See orbit simulation

Overview

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

Pheidas orbits the sun every 4,420 days (12.10 years), coming as close as 5.00 AU and reaching as far as 5.54 AU from the sun. Pheidas is about 66.2 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. state of Rhode Island.

The rotation of Pheidas has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 8.69 hours.

No Close Approaches

Pheidas's orbit is 4.06 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

Pheidas's orbit is determined by observations dating back to April 11, 1967. It was last officially observed on April 21, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 2,951 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 Pheidas:

References

Search

   or view a random object

Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 5.271 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.0513
  • Inclination: 17.34°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 256.6°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 253.14°
  • Mean Anomaly: 321.65°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 66.23000 km
  • Magnitude: 10.04
  • Albedo: 0.044

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 4,420 days (12.10 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 12.97 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 5.54 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 5.00 AU
  • Rotation Period: 8.69 hours

Map Comparison

Click to load map

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Pheidas 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.