TL;DR: Hygiea is the fourth-largest asteroid and is nearly spherical, making it a candidate dwarf planet. Its carbonaceous composition suggests water-bearing minerals, but no spacecraft has visited it.
Hygiea is the fourth-largest asteroid and is nearly spherical, making it a candidate dwarf planet. Its carbonaceous composition suggests water-bearing minerals, but no spacecraft has visited it.
Type
C-type (carbonaceous)
Composition
Carbonaceous; nearly spherical; possible differentiated interior
Orbit
3.14 AU (main belt), period 5.56 years
Mining Potential
Medium - fourth largest asteroid; carbonaceous composition; potential dwarf planet candidate
Mission
VLT observations only; no dedicated mission