156 Xanthippe

Xanthippe is a non-family asteroid from the main belt's background population. It orbits the Sun in the central main-belt at a distance of 2.1-3.3 AU once every 4 years and 6 months (1,645 days; semi-major axis of 2.73 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.23 and an inclination of 10° with respect to the ecliptic.

Photometric observations of this asteroid at the European Southern Observatory in La Silla, Chile during 1981 gave a light curve with a period of 22.5 hours. Based upon its spectrum this is classified as a hydrated C-type asteroid (Ch-subtype) in the SMASS classification, indicating that it likely has a carbonaceous composition.

Diameter and albedo

According to the surveys carried out by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Xanthippe measures between 110.409 and 143.35 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.030 and 0.0687.

This minor planet was named for Xanthippe, the wife of the Greek philosopher Socrates (c. 470-399 BC), after whom asteroid 5450 Sokrates was named. The official naming citation was mentioned in The Names of the Minor Planets by Paul Herget in 1955 (H 20).