Its orbit is in the inner zone of the main belt (it is part of the group of asteroids in 3:2 resonance with Hygiea). It has a perihelion of 1.78 AU and an aphelion of 3.01 AU. The semimajor axis is at 2.40 AU. It has an orbital period of 3 years and 262 days. It has an inclination of 21.6º (golden aspect 21º15' [=golden aspect 68º45' > 0º Cancer], 0º20' orb).
It has a diameter of about 61 km.
Phthometric observations were carried out in the year 2010.
Resonancia orbital (semieje mayor):
16:5 with Jupiter (99.6)
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3:2 with Hygiea (99.9)
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15:13 with Eunomia (99.9)
11:10 with Amphitrite (99.8)
19:13 with Europa (99.8)
Geographical place
The town Phocea (name derived from the word 'seal') was founded in the 8th century by Greek settlers in present-day Turkey. Thanks to its ports, it developed an important maritime economy along the western Mediterranean (Masalia, Nice, Tartessos, Ampurias, Alalia, Corsica and Velia).
The asteroid Phocae is related with all kinds of techniques of food preservation.
In ancient times, the most common were by dehydration, such as drying in the sun, adding salt, sugar or smoke; modifying the pH by adding vinegar; or, through fermentation, like the manufacture of cheeses made from milk.
During the discovery of the asteroid Phocaea, sterilization techniques were invented, such as Pasteurization; and subsequently refrigeration, freezing, vacuum packaging or in a protected atmosphere, and the addition of chemical preservatives.
