29196 Dius
29196 Dius (provisional designation 1990 YY) is a Jupiter Trojan asteroid, a body that shares Jupiter's orbit around the Sun, with a diameter of about 16.1 kilometers. It was discovered on 19 December 1990 by American astronomer Richard P. Binzel at the McGraw-Hill Observatory (IAU code 11061)1.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Classification | Jupiter Trojan, Trojan camp (L5)2 • 3 |
| Discovery | 19 December 1990, by R. P. Binzel at McGraw-Hill Observatory (11061)1 |
| Size | Diameter 16.129 km, larger than 99% of asteroids2 |
| Orbit | Semi-major axis 5.252 AU; period 4,400 days (12.05 years)2 |
| Distance from the Sun | Perihelion 4.98 AU, aphelion 5.53 AU2 |
| Hazard status | Not a Near-Earth Object and not a Potentially Hazardous Object; no close approaches to Earth2 |
| Observations | Orbit based on observations dating back to May 8, 1983; 1,299 observations recorded by the Minor Planet Center2 |
Discovery and naming
The asteroid was found on 19 December 1990 at the McGraw-Hill Observatory by Richard P. Binzel, who received the discovery credit under the designation 1990 YY1.
Orbit
Dius orbits the Sun every 4,400 days, about 12.05 years, on a nearly circular path with eccentricity 0.052 and inclination 3.85 degrees to the ecliptic2. Its distance from the Sun ranges from 4.98 AU at perihelion to 5.53 AU at aphelion, and its average orbital speed is 12.99 km/s2.
The orbit never approaches Earth: at its closest point it lies 4.00 AU from Earth's orbit, and orbital simulations by NASA JPL's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies show no close approaches. For this reason JPL has not classified Dius as potentially hazardous2.
Physical characteristics
Dius is about 16.1 kilometers in diameter, a size comparable to the city of Philadelphia, and reflects 14.2 percent of the light that strikes it (albedo 0.142)2. Its absolute magnitude is about 12.11 • 2.
The asteroid is not considered a viable target for human exploration by the NHATS study2.
Observations
The orbit is determined from observations dating back to May 8, 1983, with the last official observation recorded on June 28, 2023; the IAU Minor Planet Center lists 1,299 observations used in the orbit solution2. Objects with similar orbits include 1208 Troilus, 1870 Glaukos, and 2223 Sarpedon2.
References
- Planetka Dius (29196), Planety, University of West Bohemia
- Asteroid Dius, Space Reference
- List of minor planets: 29001–30000
Topic: Encyclopedia › Places and geography › Extraterrestrial places › Small bodies of the Solar System › Jupiter Trojans and other dynamical groups
Initially written Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 25, 2026
Your notes
© 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI. Free to use with credit under the Edgepedia Community License. Developers: read Edgepedia by API or MCP. Embed a reference card.