Key Facts

Overview

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

Benjamina orbits the sun every 2,080 days (5.69 years), coming as close as 2.84 AU and reaching as far as 3.54 AU from the sun. Benjamina is about 83.2 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. state of Delaware.

The rotation of Benjamina has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 9.70 hours.

No Close Approaches

Benjamina's orbit is 1.84 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

Benjamina's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 8, 1910. It was last officially observed on March 5, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 4,221 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 Benjamina:

References

Search

   or view a random object

Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 3.192 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.1095
  • Inclination: 7.73°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 242.99°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 321.59°
  • Mean Anomaly: 248.73°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 83.19500 km
  • Magnitude: 9.36
  • Albedo: 0.052
  • Spectral type (Tholen): XD:

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 2,080 days (5.69 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 16.70 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 3.54 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 2.84 AU
  • Rotation Period: 9.70 hours

Map Comparison

Click to load map

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Benjamina 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.