178401

178401 is a minor planet in the asteroid belt, discovered on October 12, 2007, by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) team at the Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico. It is approximately 1.5 kilometers in diameter and has an orbital period of about 3.5 years. The asteroid is classified as a main-belt asteroid, meaning it orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. Its orbit is relatively stable, with an eccentricity of 0.12 and an inclination of 11.5 degrees relative to the ecliptic. The asteroid's spectral type is unknown, but it is likely a C-type asteroid, which are composed of carbonaceous material and are among the most common types of asteroids in the main belt. 178401 has not been visited by any spacecraft, and its physical characteristics, such as its shape and composition, remain unknown. However, it is an interesting object for study, as it provides insight into the early solar system and the processes that shaped the asteroid belt.