5145 Pholus

5145 Pholus is a fascinating asteroid in our Solar System that has captured the attention of astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. With a 5145 Pholus radius of 95 km, making it 67.1× 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 3.06e+9 km (20.423 AU) from the Sun, 5145 Pholus occupies a significant place in the Solar System's architecture. As an asteroid, 5145 Pholus represents the remnants of the early Solar System, providing valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our cosmic neighborhood.

The 5145 Pholus physical characteristics reveal a world of remarkable dimensions and properties. The 5145 Pholus radius measures 95 km, making it 67.1× smaller than Earth's size. The 5145 Pholus mass of 7.50e+18 kg represents 796266.7× smaller than Earth's mass, giving this world substantial gravitational influence.

The 5145 Pholus orbit reveals fascinating details about its journey around the Sun and its relationship to other Solar System objects. The 5145 Pholus orbit has a semimajor axis of 3.06e+9 km (20.423 AU), placing it 20.4× Earth's distance from the Sun. At its closest approach (perihelion), 5145 Pholus comes within 1.30e+9 km of the Sun, while at its farthest point (aphelion), it reaches 4.81e+9 km, creating a 114.7% variation in solar distance. The 5145 Pholus orbit is highly elliptical with an eccentricity of 0.574 (34.4× Earth's orbital eccentricity), leading to extreme variations in temperature and solar exposure. The 5145 Pholus orbit takes 9.36 hours to complete (936.1× smaller than Earth's orbital period), defining the length of its year. The orbital inclination of 0° indicates how much the 5145 Pholus orbit is tilted relative to the Solar System's ecliptic plane. This low inclination means 5145 Pholus follows a path very close to the plane where most planets orbit, suggesting a stable formation history.

The 5145 Pholus rotation and axial orientation provide crucial insights into its daily and seasonal cycles, as well as its orbital dynamics. The 5145 Pholus axial tilt of 0° determines the intensity and nature of seasonal variations. With minimal axial tilt, 5145 Pholus experiences virtually no seasonal changes, maintaining relatively constant temperatures throughout its year. The orbital orientation parameters reveal additional details about 5145 Pholus'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 5145 Pholus temperature and atmospheric conditions are fundamental to understanding its habitability and environmental characteristics. The 5145 Pholus average temperature of 0.0 K (-273.1 °C) (-459.7°F) provides the baseline for understanding its climate. These extremely cold temperatures make 5145 Pholus 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), 5145 Pholus presents a dramatically different thermal environment. Being farther from the Sun than Earth, 5145 Pholus receives less solar radiation, resulting in cooler conditions. The elliptical orbit creates significant temperature variations throughout the year, with extreme seasonal changes.

The 5145 Pholus escape velocity and shape characteristics reveal important details about its gravitational field and rotational dynamics. The 5145 Pholus 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 5145 Pholus to retain a substantial atmosphere. The 5145 Pholus 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.