SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2001 WJ15

2001 WJ15

2001 WJ15 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.484 AU it takes 1.81 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 24
Orbital Period · P
1.81 yr
v(q)
46.5 km/s
v(Q)
12.9 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.06 km
TJ
4.38
Eccentricity · e
0.5669

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.643 AU) and its farthest (2.325 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.682 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.81 yr (660 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.484 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.567) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 8.95° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 46.5 km/s at perihelion and falls to 12.9 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 = 23.86 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.06 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 24 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4717 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 7 signals a poorly constrained orbit, so its future path should be treated as provisional.

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
1.484 AU
Eccentricity
0.5669
Perihelion
0.643 AU
Aphelion
2.32528 AU
Inclination
8.95°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
235.31°

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
2048-Nov-26 07:44 0.110675 AU
16556682 km
22.76 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
23.86

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.47168
Condition
7
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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