279 Thule

**279 Thule**
Discovery ^A

Discoverer	Johann Palisa
Discovery date	October 25, 1888
Alternate designations ^B
Category	Main belt (Thule)
Orbital elements ^C
Epoch 30 January, 2005 (JD 2453400.5)
Eccentricity (e)	0.012
Semi-major axis (a)	639.809 G m (4.277 AU)
Perihelion (q)	631.907 Gm (4.224 AU)
Aphelion (Q)	647.712 Gm (4.33 AU)
Orbital period (P)	3230.561 d (8.84 a)
Mean orbital speed	14.4 km/s
Inclination (i)	2.338°
Longitude of the ascending node (Ω)	73.642°
Argument of perihelion (ω)	82.821°
Mean anomaly (M)	274.796°
Physical characteristics ^D
Dimensions	127.0 km
Mass	unknown
Density	unknown
Surface gravity	unknown
Escape velocity	unknown
Rotation period	unknown
Spectral class	D
Absolute magnitude	8.57
Albedo (geometric)	unknown
Mean surface temperature	unknown

279 Thule is a very large Main belt asteroid. It is classified as a D-type asteroid and is probably composed of organic rich silicates, carbon and anhydrous silicates.

The orbit of Thule is unusual. It appears to orbit in the outermost edge of the Main belt in a 3:4 orbital resonance with planet Jupiter. It is the sole member of the Thule dynamical group.

It was discovered by Johann Palisa on October 25, 1888 in Vienna and was named aptly after the ultimate northern land of Thule.

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