2 Pallas

2 Pallas is one of the largest asteroids in the asteroid belt, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It was the second asteroid to be discovered, after Ceres, on March 28, 1802, by German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Matthäus Olbers.

Pallas is estimated to be around 544 kilometers (338 miles) in diameter, making it the third-largest asteroid by volume. Its surface is highly reflective and likely composed of silicate materials. Spectroscopic analysis suggests the presence of iron and magnesium silicates, similar to the composition of certain types of meteorites known as stony meteorites.

Pallas has a highly inclined and eccentric orbit compared to other asteroids. Its orbit is tilted at an angle of around 34 degrees to the ecliptic, the plane of Earth's orbit. This high inclination makes it less likely to collide with other asteroids or planets. Its eccentricity means its distance from the Sun varies considerably during its orbit.

The rotation period of Pallas is approximately 7.8 hours. Observations suggest that its shape is somewhat irregular and deviates significantly from a perfect sphere. This irregular shape is likely the result of past collisions with other objects in the asteroid belt.

While Pallas is a significant asteroid, it is much smaller than dwarf planet Ceres. The discovery of Pallas, along with Ceres, Vesta, and Juno, contributed to the eventual reclassification of these objects from planets to asteroids as more and more similar objects were found in the same region of the solar system.

Exploration of Pallas has been limited to remote observations from Earth-based telescopes and space-based observatories. There are no planned missions currently scheduled to visit Pallas.