951 Gaspra

951 Gaspra is a fascinating asteroid in our Solar System that has captured the attention of astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. Positioned at an average distance of 3.31e+8 km (2.209 AU) from the Sun, 951 Gaspra occupies a significant place in the Solar System's architecture. As an asteroid, 951 Gaspra represents the remnants of the early Solar System, providing valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our cosmic neighborhood.

The 951 Gaspra physical characteristics reveal a world of remarkable dimensions and properties. The 951 Gaspra mass of 1.00e+16 kg represents 597200000.0× smaller than Earth's mass, giving this world substantial gravitational influence.

The 951 Gaspra orbit reveals fascinating details about its journey around the Sun and its relationship to other Solar System objects. The 951 Gaspra orbit has a semimajor axis of 3.31e+8 km (2.209 AU), placing it 2.2× Earth's distance from the Sun. At its closest approach (perihelion), 951 Gaspra comes within 2.73e+8 km of the Sun, while at its farthest point (aphelion), it reaches 3.88e+8 km, creating a 34.8% variation in solar distance. The 951 Gaspra orbit is moderately elliptical with an eccentricity of 0.174 (10.4× Earth's orbital eccentricity), creating noticeable seasonal variations in solar radiation. The 951 Gaspra orbit takes 0.33 hours to complete (26309.9× smaller than Earth's orbital period), defining the length of its year. The orbital inclination of 4.102° indicates how much the 951 Gaspra orbit is tilted relative to the Solar System's ecliptic plane. This low inclination means 951 Gaspra follows a path very close to the plane where most planets orbit, suggesting a stable formation history.

The 951 Gaspra rotation and axial orientation provide crucial insights into its daily and seasonal cycles, as well as its orbital dynamics. The 951 Gaspra axial tilt of 0° determines the intensity and nature of seasonal variations. With minimal axial tilt, 951 Gaspra experiences virtually no seasonal changes, maintaining relatively constant temperatures throughout its year. The orbital orientation parameters reveal additional details about 951 Gaspra'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 951 Gaspra temperature and atmospheric conditions are fundamental to understanding its habitability and environmental characteristics. The 951 Gaspra average temperature of 0.0 K (-273.1 °C) (-459.7°F) provides the baseline for understanding its climate. These extremely cold temperatures make 951 Gaspra 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), 951 Gaspra presents a dramatically different thermal environment. Being farther from the Sun than Earth, 951 Gaspra receives less solar radiation, resulting in cooler conditions. The elliptical orbit creates significant temperature variations throughout the year, with extreme seasonal changes.

The 951 Gaspra escape velocity and shape characteristics reveal important details about its gravitational field and rotational dynamics. The 951 Gaspra 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 951 Gaspra to retain a substantial atmosphere. The 951 Gaspra 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.