43436 Ansschut
43436 Ansschut (provisional designation 2000 YD42) is a Jupiter Trojan asteroid, one of the large bodies that share Jupiter's orbit around the Sun, trapped near one of the planet's stable Lagrange points.1
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Classification | Jupiter Trojan; not a near-Earth object and not classified as potentially hazardous1 |
| Orbital period | 4,270 days (11.69 years)1 |
| Distance from the Sun | Perihelion 5.13 AU, aphelion 5.17 AU; semi-major axis 5.148 AU1 |
| Estimated diameter | 9.518 to 21.283 km from brightness and light-reflection properties; a listed value is about 12.288 km1 |
| Orbit shape | Eccentricity 0.0044, inclination 8.36°, average orbital speed 13.12 km/s1 |
| Observations | Orbit based on 1,218 Minor Planet Center observations dating back to Sept. 11, 1996; last officially observed Jan. 11, 20231 |
Orbit and physical properties
Ansschut follows a nearly circular path with the same 11.69-year period as Jupiter, staying between 5.13 and 5.17 AU from the Sun, a spread of only about 0.04 AU that reflects its very low eccentricity of 0.0044.1 Its orbit is tilted 8.36° to the ecliptic, and it moves at an average speed of 13.12 km/s.1
Its size is inferred from brightness and how it reflects light rather than measured directly: the estimated range is 9.518 to 21.283 km in diameter, which places it among asteroids larger than 99% of the known population, roughly comparable in size to the city of Cleveland, Ohio.1 Its listed magnitude is 12.23.1
Earth safety and exploration
Ansschut's orbit never comes near Earth: its closest approach to Earth's orbit is 4.12 AU, and orbital simulations by NASA JPL's CNEOS show no close approaches to Earth, which is why it is not classified as a potentially hazardous object.1 The NHATS study does not consider it a viable target for human exploration.1
Similar objects
Other asteroids with orbits sharing similar characteristics include 1583 Antilochus (1950 SA), 1749 Telamon (1949 SB), and 2893 Peiroos (1975 QD).1
References
Topic: Encyclopedia › Places and geography › Extraterrestrial places › Small bodies of the Solar System › Jupiter Trojans and other dynamical groups › Trojans and Hildas named for modern figures
Initially written Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 25, 2026
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