25143 Itokawa

25143 Itokawa 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 1.98e+8 km (1.324 AU) from the Sun, 25143 Itokawa occupies a significant place in the Solar System's architecture. As an asteroid, 25143 Itokawa represents the remnants of the early Solar System, providing valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our cosmic neighborhood.

The 25143 Itokawa physical characteristics reveal a world of remarkable dimensions and properties. The 25143 Itokawa mass of 3.50e+10 kg represents 170628571428571.4× smaller than Earth's mass, giving this world substantial gravitational influence.

The 25143 Itokawa orbit reveals fascinating details about its journey around the Sun and its relationship to other Solar System objects. The 25143 Itokawa orbit has a semimajor axis of 1.98e+8 km (1.324 AU), placing it 1.3× Earth's distance from the Sun. At its closest approach (perihelion), 25143 Itokawa comes within 1.43e+8 km of the Sun, while at its farthest point (aphelion), it reaches 2.54e+8 km, creating a 56.1% variation in solar distance. The 25143 Itokawa orbit is moderately elliptical with an eccentricity of 0.28 (16.8× Earth's orbital eccentricity), creating noticeable seasonal variations in solar radiation. The 25143 Itokawa orbit takes 0.15 hours to complete (56720.5× smaller than Earth's orbital period), defining the length of its year. The orbital inclination of 1.622° indicates how much the 25143 Itokawa orbit is tilted relative to the Solar System's ecliptic plane. This low inclination means 25143 Itokawa follows a path very close to the plane where most planets orbit, suggesting a stable formation history.

The 25143 Itokawa rotation and axial orientation provide crucial insights into its daily and seasonal cycles, as well as its orbital dynamics. The 25143 Itokawa axial tilt of 0° determines the intensity and nature of seasonal variations. With minimal axial tilt, 25143 Itokawa experiences virtually no seasonal changes, maintaining relatively constant temperatures throughout its year. The orbital orientation parameters reveal additional details about 25143 Itokawa'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 25143 Itokawa temperature and atmospheric conditions are fundamental to understanding its habitability and environmental characteristics. The 25143 Itokawa average temperature of 0.0 K (-273.1 °C) (-459.7°F) provides the baseline for understanding its climate. These extremely cold temperatures make 25143 Itokawa 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), 25143 Itokawa presents a dramatically different thermal environment. At a similar distance to Earth from the Sun, 25143 Itokawa's temperature is primarily influenced by its atmospheric composition and albedo. The elliptical orbit creates significant temperature variations throughout the year, with extreme seasonal changes.

The 25143 Itokawa escape velocity and shape characteristics reveal important details about its gravitational field and rotational dynamics. The 25143 Itokawa 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 25143 Itokawa to retain a substantial atmosphere. The 25143 Itokawa 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.