(225088) Gonggong

(225088) Gonggong 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 1.00e+10 km (66.991 AU) from the Sun, (225088) Gonggong occupies a significant place in the Solar System's architecture. As an asteroid, (225088) Gonggong represents the remnants of the early Solar System, providing valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our cosmic neighborhood.

The (225088) Gonggong physical characteristics reveal a world of remarkable dimensions and properties.

The (225088) Gonggong orbit reveals fascinating details about its journey around the Sun and its relationship to other Solar System objects. The (225088) Gonggong orbit has a semimajor axis of 1.00e+10 km (66.991 AU), placing it 67.0× Earth's distance from the Sun. At its closest approach (perihelion), (225088) Gonggong comes within 4.94e+9 km of the Sun, while at its farthest point (aphelion), it reaches 1.51e+10 km, creating a 101.3% variation in solar distance. The (225088) Gonggong orbit is highly elliptical with an eccentricity of 0.506 (30.3× Earth's orbital eccentricity), leading to extreme variations in temperature and solar exposure. The (225088) Gonggong orbit takes 2.32 days to complete (157.6× smaller than Earth's orbital period), defining the length of its year. The orbital inclination of 30.9° indicates how much the (225088) Gonggong orbit is tilted relative to the Solar System's ecliptic plane. This high inclination suggests (225088) Gonggong may have experienced significant gravitational perturbations or formed in a different region of the Solar System.

The (225088) Gonggong rotation and axial orientation provide crucial insights into its daily and seasonal cycles, as well as its orbital dynamics. The (225088) Gonggong axial tilt of 0° determines the intensity and nature of seasonal variations. With minimal axial tilt, (225088) Gonggong experiences virtually no seasonal changes, maintaining relatively constant temperatures throughout its year. The orbital orientation parameters reveal additional details about (225088) Gonggong's position in space. The mean anomaly of 103.85° indicates the planet's current position in its orbit relative to its perihelion. The argument of periapsis of 206.62° shows how the orbit's orientation changes over time due to gravitational perturbations. The longitude of ascending node of 336.86° defines the reference point where the orbit crosses the ecliptic plane.

The (225088) Gonggong temperature and atmospheric conditions are fundamental to understanding its habitability and environmental characteristics. The (225088) Gonggong average temperature of 0.0 K (-273.1 °C) (-459.7°F) provides the baseline for understanding its climate. These extremely cold temperatures make (225088) Gonggong 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), (225088) Gonggong presents a dramatically different thermal environment. Being farther from the Sun than Earth, (225088) Gonggong receives less solar radiation, resulting in cooler conditions. The elliptical orbit creates significant temperature variations throughout the year, with extreme seasonal changes.

The (225088) Gonggong escape velocity and shape characteristics reveal important details about its gravitational field and rotational dynamics. The (225088) Gonggong 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 (225088) Gonggong to retain a substantial atmosphere. The (225088) Gonggong 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.