(3218) Delphine Main-belt Asteroid

Discovered on 24 September 1960 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T. at Palomar.

Where Delphine is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsDelphineDelphine

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Delphine is 2.95 au from the Sun and 3.93 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number3218
Provisional designation6611 P-L
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Diameter4.93 km (#10,738 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.182
Rotation period3.47 hours
Absolute magnitude (H)14.1
Orbital period4.00 years
Semi-major axis2.52 au
Perihelion – aphelion1.97 – 3.07 au
Eccentricity0.217
Inclination2.70°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)0.985 au

Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.

Also discovered on 24 September 1960

More named asteroids discovered by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T.