279 Thule is a very large Main belt asteroid. It is classified as a D-type asteroid and is probably composed of organic rich silicates, carbon and anhydrous silicates.

The orbit of Thule is unusual. It appears to orbit in the outermost edge of the Main belt in a 3:4 orbital resonance with planet Jupiter. It is the sole member of the Thule dynamical group .

It was discovered by Johann Palisa on October 25, 1888 in Vienna and was named aptly after the ultimate northern land of Thule.