(1966) Tristan Main-belt Asteroid

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

Where Tristan is today

MercuryVenusEarthEarthMarsMarsTristanTristan

Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Tristan is 2.47 au from the Sun and 2.24 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.

Facts

Number1966
Provisional designation2552 P-L
Orbit classMain-belt Asteroid
Diameter8.41 km (#6,218 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size)
Albedo0.0990
Rotation period3.48 hours
Absolute magnitude (H)14.28
Orbital period3.83 years
Semi-major axis2.45 au
Perihelion – aphelion2.22 – 2.67 au
Eccentricity0.0918
Inclination2.48°
Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID)1.23 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.