Encyclopedia of Science
ASTEROID TYPES & GROUPS
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

                   • HOME
• ABOUT
• CATEGORIES
• USE OF TEXT AND IMAGES
• NEWSLETTER

  



Apollo group


typical orbits of Apollos, Atens, and Amors
Typical orbits of Apollo-, Amor-, and Aten-type asteroids.
Image credit: ESA
Also known as Earth-crossing asteroids, one of three groups of near-Earth asteroids. Apollo group asteroids have semimajor axes greater than 1.0 AU and perihelia less than 1.017 AU (Earth's aphelion distance).

Some Apollo objects can approach closer than Mercury to the Sun, the record-holder being 1995CR with a perihelion distance of 0.12 AU. Other notable members of the group include (1862) Apollo (the prototype), (1866) Sisyphus (the largest, with a diameter of about 8 km), (3200) Phaethon, (1685) Toro, and (4179) Toutatis.


Related category

   • ASTEROIDS AND OTHER MINOR PLANETS: TYPES AND GROUPS



Also on this site:

Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living
Encyclopedia of History


BACK TO TOP