Refiner of Gold Creations'

Solar System -- Asteroids

Possibly the Largest Compound Asteroid
624 Hektor
  • Largest of the Trojan Asteroids.
    • Two maverick groups of asteroids in same orbit of Jupiter.
    • One group leads Jupiter by 60°.
    • The second group follows by 60°.
    • Named for the heroes of the Trojan Wars.
  • When viewed from Earth, Hektor varies in brightness.
    • These variations tend to indicate an oblong shape tumbling in space.
    • An alternate theory is a round body dark and light hemispheres.
  • Hektor proved to be strongly elongated.
  • Neighboring asteroids are no more than half Hektor's size.
  • It is possible that Hektor is an amalgamation of two smaller asteroids during a low-speed collision.
  • Another theory suggests other forces combined to form its peanut-like shape:
    • Gravity
    • Tidal streching
    • Rotation
    • Weak, fractured composition
  • Hektor is referred to as a "compound" asteroid.

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Refiner of Gold Creations
1998 Solar System Facts
Created by EMC on 6/23/1997. Updated 5/4/2005.