Pallas - The Third Largest Asteroid

Image Source       Lightcurve model of Pallas

Pallas, also known as 2 Pallas, is the third largest asteroid in the Solar System. It was the second asteroid to be discovered after Ceres (largest asteroid in the Solar System). On 28 Mar 1802, a German astronomer named Heinrich Wilhelm Matthäus Olbers discovered Pallas. 2 Pallas is named after Pallas Athena the Greek goddess of wisdom. It is 512 km (318 mi) in diameter. With a mass of (2.11±0.26)×1020 kg, the asteroid is estimated to be about 7% of the total mass of the asteroid belt.

The dimensions of the asteroid are 550 km × 516 km × 476 km. Surface area is (8.3±0.2)×105 km². The volume is (7.1±0.3)×107 km³. Has a mass of (2.11±0.26)×1020 kg and the mean density is 3.0±0.5 g/cm³. Aphelion distance is 3.4119 AU and the Perihelion distance is 2.1336 AU. It rotates once every 7.8 hours and revolves around the Sun in 4.62 Earth years.

The orbital inclination of 34.8°. Pallas has a highly inclined orbit to the plane of the asteroid belt and the orbital eccentricity (0.2305) is very large as that of Pluto. Hence making the asteroid inaccessible to spacecraft. The surface spectrum and estimated density suggest that Pallas resembles carbonaceous chondrite meteorites and the surface is composed of silicate material.

Upon discovery due to the size of the asteroid, it was considered a dwarf planet but is no longer considered such because of its shape.

Source: Wikipedia

If you liked my post, then please give an Upvote and Resteem it or follow me, you will be thanked.