Key Facts
- Categorized as a Main-belt Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the San Francisco Bay (6.56 km diameter)
- Not a Near Earth Object
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
Sagan is a mid-sized asteroid circling the sun between Mars and Jupiter, inside the main asteroid belt. NASA JPL does not treat Sagan as potentially hazardous, because its orbit never carries it near Earth.
One lap around the sun takes Sagan 1,190 days (3.26 years). Over that circuit it swings between 2.04 AU and 2.35 AU from the sun, travelling at an average of 20.07 km/s. At 6.6 kilometers across, Sagan is bigger than 99% of known asteroids — roughly the size of the San Francisco Bay.
Sagan has been watched long enough to time its spin: one full turn on its axis takes 5.26 hours.
Sagan is classed as S on SMASSII.
No Close Approaches
At their nearest, the orbits of Sagan and Earth stay 1.04 AU apart. That is a comfortable margin, and it holds at every point in the orbit.
Orbital simulations run by NASA JPL's CNEOS turn up no close approaches to Earth.
Images and Observations
The orbit of Sagan is pinned down by sightings going back to Feb. 3, 1959, the most recent officially logged on Feb. 9, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center holds 3,697 observations behind that solution.
Accessibility and Exploration
The NHATS study does not rate Sagan as a realistic destination for a crewed mission.Similar Objects
These objects follow orbits with much the same shape and tilt as Sagan:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.195 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.0692
- Inclination: 2.74°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 241°
- Argument of Periapsis: 309.17°
- Mean Anomaly: 264.97°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 6.55900 km
- Magnitude: 13.29
- Albedo: 0.259
- Spectral type (SMASS): S
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,190 days (3.26 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.07 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.35 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 2.04 AU
- Rotation Period: 5.26 hours
Map Comparison
Size Rendering
An artistic impression, scaling Sagan against the New York skyline from its measured diameter. The shape, colour and texture of the asteroid are invented; only the size is real. Built for full-size desktop browsers.
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
A ◯ pink circle marks where Sagan sits. It may fall outside your current field of view — use the controls below to change the position, location and time.