SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 1998 H1

Stonehouse

Stonehouse follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.998 carries it from 1.487 AU at perihelion out to 1,442.7 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 407
Encyclopedia excerpt
Comet Stonehouse, formally designated C/1998 H1, is a non-periodic comet discovered in April 22, 1998 by Patrick L. Stonehouse of Wolverine, Michigan, USA.
Orbital Period · P
19,404 yr
v(q)
34.5 km/s
v(Q)
0 km/s
TJ
-0.38
Eccentricity · e
0.9979

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.487 AU) and its farthest (1,442.7 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1,441.2 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 19,404 yr (7,087,389 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 722.1 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 104.7° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 34.5 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -0.38, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 407 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.76 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
722.1 AU
Eccentricity
0.9979
Perihelion
1.487 AU
Aphelion
1442.68359 AU
Inclination
104.69°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2450946.5
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
0.75997
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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