10 Hygiea

10 Hygiea is a fascinating asteroid in our Solar System that has captured the attention of astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. With a 10 Hygiea radius of 203.6 km, making it 31.3× smaller than Earth's size, this celestial body presents unique characteristics that distinguish it from other objects in our cosmic neighborhood. Positioned at an average distance of 4.69e+8 km (3.137 AU) from the Sun, 10 Hygiea occupies a significant place in the Solar System's architecture. As an asteroid, 10 Hygiea represents the remnants of the early Solar System, providing valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our cosmic neighborhood.

The 10 Hygiea physical characteristics reveal a world of remarkable dimensions and properties. The 10 Hygiea radius measures 203.6 km, making it 31.3× smaller than Earth's size. The 10 Hygiea mass of 1.00e+20 kg represents 59720.0× smaller than Earth's mass, giving this world substantial gravitational influence.

The 10 Hygiea orbit reveals fascinating details about its journey around the Sun and its relationship to other Solar System objects. The 10 Hygiea orbit has a semimajor axis of 4.69e+8 km (3.137 AU), placing it 3.1× Earth's distance from the Sun. At its closest approach (perihelion), 10 Hygiea comes within 4.13e+8 km of the Sun, while at its farthest point (aphelion), it reaches 5.25e+8 km, creating a 23.8% variation in solar distance. The 10 Hygiea orbit is moderately elliptical with an eccentricity of 0.119 (7.1× Earth's orbital eccentricity), creating noticeable seasonal variations in solar radiation. The 10 Hygiea orbit takes 0.56 hours to complete (15547.6× smaller than Earth's orbital period), defining the length of its year. The orbital inclination of 3.83° indicates how much the 10 Hygiea orbit is tilted relative to the Solar System's ecliptic plane. This low inclination means 10 Hygiea follows a path very close to the plane where most planets orbit, suggesting a stable formation history.

The 10 Hygiea rotation and axial orientation provide crucial insights into its daily and seasonal cycles, as well as its orbital dynamics. The 10 Hygiea axial tilt of 0° determines the intensity and nature of seasonal variations. With minimal axial tilt, 10 Hygiea experiences virtually no seasonal changes, maintaining relatively constant temperatures throughout its year. The orbital orientation parameters reveal additional details about 10 Hygiea's position in space. The mean anomaly of 0° indicates the planet's current position in its orbit relative to its perihelion. The argument of periapsis of 0° shows how the orbit's orientation changes over time due to gravitational perturbations. The longitude of ascending node of 0° defines the reference point where the orbit crosses the ecliptic plane.

The 10 Hygiea temperature and atmospheric conditions are fundamental to understanding its habitability and environmental characteristics. The 10 Hygiea average temperature of 0.0 K (-273.1 °C) (-459.7°F) provides the baseline for understanding its climate. These extremely cold temperatures make 10 Hygiea inhospitable to life as we know it, with any atmosphere likely frozen solid on the surface. Compared to Earth's average temperature of 15°C (59°F), 10 Hygiea presents a dramatically different thermal environment. Being farther from the Sun than Earth, 10 Hygiea receives less solar radiation, resulting in cooler conditions. The elliptical orbit creates significant temperature variations throughout the year, with extreme seasonal changes.

The 10 Hygiea escape velocity and shape characteristics reveal important details about its gravitational field and rotational dynamics. The 10 Hygiea escape velocity of 0 m/s determines how easily objects can break free from its gravitational pull. This relatively low escape velocity means that gases and light molecules can easily escape into space, making it difficult for 10 Hygiea to retain a substantial atmosphere. The 10 Hygiea flattening of 0.0000% indicates how much the planet's rotation affects its shape. This minimal flattening suggests a nearly spherical shape, indicating either slow rotation or a very rigid internal structure.