Key Facts

  • Categorized as a Jupiter Trojan
  • Comparable in size to the U.S. state of Rhode Island (63.28 km diameter)
  • Not a Near Earth Object
  • Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
  • See orbit simulation

Overview

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

Medon orbits the sun every 4,350 days (11.91 years), coming as close as 4.65 AU and reaching as far as 5.79 AU from the sun. Medon is about 63.3 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. state of Rhode Island.

The rotation of Medon has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 9.82 hours.

No Close Approaches

Medon's orbit is 3.68 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

Medon's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 2, 1986. It was last officially observed on April 17, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 4,789 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 Medon:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 5.217 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.1094
  • Inclination: 19.39°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 82.06°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 34.05°
  • Mean Anomaly: 351.8°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 63.27700 km
  • Magnitude: 9.62
  • Albedo: 0.070

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 4,350 days (11.91 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 13.05 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 5.79 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 4.65 AU
  • Rotation Period: 9.82 hours

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Medon 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.