SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2001 GM2

2001 GM2

2001 GM2 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.678 AU it takes 2.17 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 166
Orbital Period · P
2.17 yr
v(q)
39 km/s
v(Q)
13.5 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.29 km
TJ
4.03
Eccentricity · e
0.4849

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.864 AU) and its farthest (2.492 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.628 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.17 yr (794 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.678 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.485) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 21.17° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 39 km/s at perihelion and falls to 13.5 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 = 20.41 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.29 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 166 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4939 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 0 means the orbit is very well determined, leaving only a small uncertainty in the future ephemeris.

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
1.678 AU
Eccentricity
0.4849
Perihelion
0.864 AU
Aphelion
2.491662 AU
Inclination
21.17°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
228.68°

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
2051-Apr-12 21:43 0.136726 AU
20453934 km
14.15 km/s
2064-Apr-22 04:12 0.190225 AU
28457269 km
19.31 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
20.41

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.49387
Condition
0
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.

Keep exploring

Explore asteroids, comets and near-Earth objects with JPL orbital data.