description 2 Pallas Overview
2 Pallas is the second-largest asteroid in the main asteroid belt, discovered by the German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers in 1802. Classified as a B-type asteroid, it is composed of silicate and carbon compounds, giving it a dark surface. Pallas follows a highly inclined orbit, tilted at approximately 34 degrees relative to the plane of the ecliptic, which makes it largely inaccessible to spacecraft missions. Its significant size, orbital path, and composition distinguish it from other large asteroids.
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Who discovered the asteroid 2 Pallas?
German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers discovered Pallas in 1802. Its number, 2, reflects that it was the second asteroid identified after 1 Ceres.
Why is Pallas difficult for spacecraft to visit?
Its orbit is inclined by roughly 34 degrees to the main plane of the Solar System. Reaching that steeply tilted orbit requires a large velocity change compared with visiting many other main-belt asteroids.
Is Pallas larger than Vesta?
Pallas and Vesta are both among the largest bodies in the asteroid belt, with Pallas generally ranked second by size after Ceres. Vesta is more massive, however, and the two bodies have very different shapes and compositions.
Is 2 Pallas officially a dwarf planet?
No, the International Astronomical Union classifies Pallas as a minor planet rather than a dwarf planet. Unlike Ceres, Pallas has not received an official dwarf-planet designation.
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