 Two lightcurves, published in 2016, using modeled photometric data from the Lowell Photometric Database (LPD) and other sources, gave a concurring sidereal period of and hours, respectively.Each modeled lightcurve also determined two spin axes of (123.0°, −58.0°) and (337.0°, −47.0°), as well as (115.0°, −77.0°) and (338.0°, −43.0°) in ecliptic coordinates (λ, β).According to the surveys carried out by the Japanese Akari satellite and the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), "Athene" measures () and () kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of () and (), respectively.