(16) Psyche Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 17 March 1852 by A. de Gasparis at Naples.
Where Psyche is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Psyche is 3.07 au from the Sun and 3.66 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 16 |
| Provisional designation | A852 FA |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 222 km (#18 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.120 |
| Rotation period | 4.20 hours |
| Spectral type | M |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 6.2 |
| Orbital period | 5.00 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.93 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.53 – 3.32 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.135 |
| Inclination | 3.10° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.53 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
More named asteroids discovered by A. de Gasparis
← (15) Eunomia · (17) Thetis →