Toutatis

views updated

Toutatis A solar system asteroid (No. 4179), measuring 4.6 × 2.4 × 1.9km; approximate mass 1013kg; rotational period irregular; orbital period 1.1 years. It is a double object, its two components probably in contact, one estimated to be 2.5 km in diameter and the other 1.5 km. On 29 September 2004 Toutatis will reach its closest approach to Earth, at a distance of about 1.5 million km.

More From encyclopedia.com