SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2001 BC16

2001 BC16

2001 BC16 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.711 AU it takes 2.24 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 34
Orbital Period · P
2.24 yr
v(q)
36.7 km/s
v(Q)
14.2 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.06 km
TJ
4.05
Eccentricity · e
0.4426

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.953 AU) and its farthest (2.468 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.515 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.24 yr (817 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.711 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.443) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 10.2° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 36.7 km/s at perihelion and falls to 14.2 km/s at aphelion.

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

Size and surface

No direct size measurement is available; from an absolute magnitude of H = 23.9 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.06 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 34 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.226 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 6 indicates a moderately constrained orbit; predictions decades ahead still carry noticeable uncertainty.

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
1.711 AU
Eccentricity
0.4426
Perihelion
0.953 AU
Aphelion
2.468289 AU
Inclination
10.2°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
107.47°

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

Predicted close approaches to Earth, from NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).

Date (UTC)Miss distanceVelocity
2030-May-08 04:53 0.259844 AU
38872050 km
15.62 km/s
2048-Jan-22 03:23 0.031647 AU
4734381 km
12.73 km/s
2057-Jan-01 19:16 0.377146 AU
56420225 km
22.49 km/s
2068-May-20 07:03 0.448986 AU
67167275 km
21.48 km/s
2077-Apr-28 05:50 0.215846 AU
32290101 km
11.79 km/s

Distances in astronomical units (AU) and kilometres. Source: NASA/JPL CNEOS Close Approach Data API.

Physical Parameters

Diameter
— km
Albedo
—
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
23.9

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.22599
Condition
6
Orbit ID
—
Data source: NASA JPL Small-Body Database · NASA CNEOS. 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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