SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 1987 U3

McNaught

McNaught follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.999 carries it from 0.841 AU at perihelion out to 1,166.0 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 106
Orbital Period · P
14,091 yr
v(q)
45.9 km/s
v(Q)
0 km/s
TJ
-0.13
Eccentricity · e
0.9986

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.841 AU) and its farthest (1,166.0 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1,165.1 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 14,091 yr (5,146,830 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 583.4 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.999) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 97.13° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 45.9 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 = -0.13, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 106 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5944 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
583.4 AU
Eccentricity
0.9986
Perihelion
0.841 AU
Aphelion
1165.98324 AU
Inclination
97.13°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2447168.5
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
0.59436
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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