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Pallas is unusual in that, like Uranus, it rotates on its side, with its axis of rotation tilted at high angles to its orbital plane. [81] Its composition is similar to that of Ceres: high in carbon and silicon, and perhaps partially differentiated. [82] Pallas is the parent body of the Palladian family of asteroids.
For solid objects, such as rocky planets and asteroids, the rotation period is a single value.For gaseous or fluid bodies, such as stars and giant planets, the period of rotation varies from the object's equator to its pole due to a phenomenon called differential rotation.
The poles of astronomical bodies are determined based on their axis of rotation in relation to the celestial poles of the celestial sphere. Astronomical bodies include stars, planets, dwarf planets and small Solar System bodies such as comets and minor planets (e.g., asteroids), as well as natural satellites and minor-planet moons.
This plot shows the distribution of rotation periods for 15,000 minor planets as of September 2016, plotted against their diameters. Most bodies have a period between 2 and 20 hours. [1] [a] This is a list of fast rotators—"minor planets" (which includes asteroids) that have an exceptionally short rotation period, i
"Mini-moon" events occur when asteroids or floating pieces of space junk temporarily orbit the Earth. Their length of time in orbit varies, with some completing a full rotation around the Earth ...
As of 2012, and where the rotation is known, all satellites of asteroids orbit the asteroid in the same direction as the asteroid is rotating. [ 22 ] Most known objects that are in orbital resonance are orbiting in the same direction as the objects they are in resonance with, however a few retrograde asteroids have been found in resonance with ...
Here's what to know about Apophis and how space agencies hope to protect Earth from other asteroids like it. Apophis to make 2029 flyby to Earth Apophis is projected to pass within 20,000 miles of ...
Contrary to popular imagery, the asteroid belt is mostly empty. The asteroids are spread over such a large volume that reaching an asteroid without aiming carefully would be improbable. Nonetheless, hundreds of thousands of asteroids are currently known, and the total number ranges in the millions or more, depending on the lower size cutoff.