(2921) Sophocles Outer Main-belt Asteroid

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

Where Sophocles is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsSophoclesSophocles

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Sophocles is 3.53 au from the Sun and 3.81 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number2921
Provisional designation6525 P-L
Orbit classOuter Main-belt Asteroid
Diameter10.5 km (#4,800 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.0830
Rotation period4.78 hours
Absolute magnitude (H)13.54
Orbital period5.86 years
Semi-major axis3.25 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.75 – 3.75 au
Eccentricity0.155
Inclination1.49°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.74 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.