SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2002 LH3

2002 LH3

2002 LH3 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 2.122 AU once every 3.09 yr.

Amor Observations: 78
Orbital Period · P
3.09 yr
v(q)
33.4 km/s
v(Q)
12.5 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.31 km
TJ
3.58
Eccentricity · e
0.4557

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.155 AU) and its farthest (3.089 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.934 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 3.09 yr (1,129 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.122 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.456) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 6.39° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 33.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 12.5 km/s at aphelion.

Its perihelion lies just outside Earth's orbit, which is why it is classed as Earth-approaching rather than Earth-crossing.

Size and surface

No direct size measurement is available; from an absolute magnitude of H = 20.3 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.31 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 78 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5312 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 1 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
2.122 AU
Eccentricity
0.4557
Perihelion
1.155 AU
Aphelion
3.088995 AU
Inclination
6.39°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
262.04°

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
2033-Jun-13 23:50 0.490252 AU
73340613 km
15.21 km/s
2036-Jul-13 10:55 0.184088 AU
27539241 km
5.75 km/s
2067-Jun-30 09:43 0.246196 AU
36830420 km
8.08 km/s
2070-Jul-28 12:10 0.462891 AU
69247507 km
12.16 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
20.3

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.53117
Condition
1
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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