(3255) Tholen Mars-crossing Asteroid
Discovered on 2 September 1980 by E. Bowell at Anderson Mesa.
Where Tholen is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Tholen is 3.23 au from the Sun and 4.04 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 3255 |
| Provisional designation | 1980 RA |
| Orbit class | Mars-crossing Asteroid |
| Diameter | 4.02 km (#12,679 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.341 |
| Rotation period | 2.95 hours |
| Spectral type | S |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 13.56 |
| Orbital period | 3.65 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.37 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.51 – 3.23 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.363 |
| Inclination | 21.4° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.668 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also discovered on 2 September 1980
- (2316) Jo-Ann
- (2451) Dollfus
- (2917) Sawyer Hogg
- (3217) Seidelmann
- (5364) Christophschafer
- (6280) Sicardy
- (8250) Cornell
More named asteroids discovered by E. Bowell
- (2246) Bowell
- (2264) Sabrina
- (2270) Yazhi
- (2316) Jo-Ann
- (2356) Hirons
- (2357) Phereclos
- (2383) Bradley
- (2409) Chapman
- (2410) Morrison
- (2411) Zellner
- (2421) Nininger
- (2432) Soomana
← (3254) Bus · (3256) Daguerre →