SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 1972 E1

Bradfield

Bradfield follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.998 carries it from 0.927 AU at perihelion out to 996.5 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 85
Orbital Period · P
11,137 yr
v(q)
43.7 km/s
v(Q)
0 km/s
TJ
-0.66
Eccentricity · e
0.9981

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.927 AU) and its farthest (996.5 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 995.5 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 11,137 yr (4,067,703 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 498.7 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.998) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 123.7° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 43.7 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0 km/s at aphelion.

Because q < 1 AU and Q > 1 AU, this orbit geometrically intersects the region of Earth's orbit.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -0.66, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

Neither a measured diameter nor a reliable absolute magnitude is available for Bradfield, so its physical size remains unconstrained.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 85 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5792 arcseconds.

About these computed values

Orbital periods, perihelion and aphelion speeds, and diameter estimates on this page are computed by SpaceAtlas from the JPL SBDB orbital elements. They are derived quantities, not values copied from the source catalogue.

Orbital Parameters

Semi-Major Axis
498.7 AU
Eccentricity
0.9981
Perihelion
0.927 AU
Aphelion
996.45247 AU
Inclination
123.69°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2441431.5
Mean Anomaly
0.0°

Orbit diagram

The Sun sits at the focus (orange). Earth's orbit is the grey circle at 1 AU. The red dot marks the object's position at the catalog epoch.

3D orbit (interactive)

Drag to rotate; scroll or pinch to zoom. The Sun is at the focus (orange), Earth's orbit is the grey ring at 1 AU, and the red dot marks the object's current position.

Close approaches

No close approaches to Earth are currently on record for this object.

Physical Parameters

Diameter
— km
Albedo
—
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
—

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.57921
Condition
—
Orbit ID
—
Data source: NASA JPL Small-Body Database . Orbital periods, perihelion and aphelion speeds, and diameter estimates on this page are computed by SpaceAtlas from the JPL SBDB orbital elements. They are derived quantities, not values copied from the source catalogue.

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