Key Facts

  • Categorized as a Main-belt Asteroid
  • Comparable in size to the U.S. state of Connecticut (147.49 km diameter)
  • Not a Near Earth Object
  • Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
  • See orbit simulation

Overview

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

Flora orbits the sun every 1,190 days (3.26 years), coming as close as 1.86 AU and reaching as far as 2.55 AU from the sun. Flora is about 147.5 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. state of Connecticut.

The rotation of Flora has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 12.87 hours.

No Close Approaches

Flora's orbit is 0.87 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

Flora's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 27, 1847. It was last officially observed on May 29, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 3,074 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 Flora:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 2.201 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.1565
  • Inclination: 5.89°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 110.86°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 285.6°
  • Mean Anomaly: 317.29°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 147.49100 km
  • Magnitude: 6.61
  • Albedo: 0.226
  • Spectral type (Tholen): S

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 1,190 days (3.26 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.12 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 2.55 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 1.86 AU
  • Rotation Period: 12.87 hours

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Flora 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.