Orbit
It is categorized as an Apollo asteroid (because its semi-major axis is greater than that of the Earth's and its perihelion is less than 1.017 astronomical units. It is also suspected to be a member of the Pallas family of asteroids.
Phaethon's most remarkable distinction is that it approaches the Sun closer than any other named asteroid: its perihelion is only 0.140 AU — less than half of Mercury's perihelion distance. It is a Mercury-, Venus-, Earth-, and Mars-crosser. The surface temperature at perihelion could reach ~1025 K, or 1400 F.
Read more about this topic: 3200 Phaethon
Famous quotes containing the word orbit:
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