(22283) Pytheas Mars-crossing Asteroid
Discovered on 6 August 1986 by Elst, E. W., Ivanova, V. G. at Smolyan.
Pytheas (fl. 4th century BC) was a geographer from the Greek colony of Massalia (Marseille). In 325 BC he made a voyage exploring Northwestern Europe and visiting a considerable part of Great Britain. Pytheas is also known as the first scientific investigator and reporter of the Arctic polar ice and the Germanic tribes.Naming citation (MPC batch dated 2015-03-05), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Pytheas is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Pytheas is 2.62 au from the Sun and 3.14 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 22283 |
| Provisional designation | 1986 PY |
| Orbit class | Mars-crossing Asteroid |
| Rotation period | 5.73 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.93 |
| Orbital period | 3.24 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.19 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.65 – 2.73 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.246 |
| Inclination | 7.98° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.642 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.