SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2002 CU46

2002 CU46

2002 CU46 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.736 AU it takes 2.29 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 56
Orbital Period · P
2.29 yr
v(q)
42.9 km/s
v(Q)
11.9 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.21 km
TJ
3.8
Eccentricity · e
0.5649

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.755 AU) and its farthest (2.717 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.962 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.29 yr (835 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.736 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.565) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 32.17° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 42.9 km/s at perihelion and falls to 11.9 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 = 21.1 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.21 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 56 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5729 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 9 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
1.736 AU
Eccentricity
0.5649
Perihelion
0.755 AU
Aphelion
2.716666 AU
Inclination
32.17°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2452321.5
Mean Anomaly
331.17°

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
21.1

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.5729
Condition
9
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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