(5450) Sokrates Main-belt Asteroid

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

Where Sokrates is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsSokratesSokrates

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Sokrates is 2.81 au from the Sun and 1.84 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number5450
Provisional designation2780 P-L
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Diameter20.5 km (#2,140 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.0500
Rotation period5.98 hours
Absolute magnitude (H)12.56
Orbital period4.72 years
Semi-major axis2.81 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.48 – 3.15 au
Eccentricity0.120
Inclination5.24°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.49 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.