Key Facts

  • Categorized as a Jupiter Trojan
  • Comparable in size to the U.S. state of Rhode Island (67.63 km diameter)
  • Not a Near Earth Object
  • Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
  • See orbit simulation

Overview

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

Menestheus orbits the sun every 4,250 days (11.64 years), coming as close as 4.75 AU and reaching as far as 5.52 AU from the sun. Menestheus is about 67.6 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. state of Rhode Island.

The rotation of Menestheus has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 14.30 hours.

No Close Approaches

Menestheus's orbit is 3.78 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

Menestheus's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 19, 1973. It was last officially observed on March 9, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 3,428 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 Menestheus:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 5.136 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.0752
  • Inclination: 17.57°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 177.65°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 317.57°
  • Mean Anomaly: 311.2°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 67.62500 km
  • Magnitude: 9.66
  • Albedo: 0.061

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 4,250 days (11.64 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 13.15 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 5.52 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 4.75 AU
  • Rotation Period: 14.30 hours

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Menestheus 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.