SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2002 SQ41

2002 SQ41

2002 SQ41 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 2.614 AU it takes 4.23 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 113
Orbital Period · P
4.23 yr
v(q)
55.1 km/s
v(Q)
6.2 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.32 km
TJ
2.76
Eccentricity · e
0.7989

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.526 AU) and its farthest (4.702 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 4.176 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 4.23 yr (1,544 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.614 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.799) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 25.11° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 55.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 6.2 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 = 20.26 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.32 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 113 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.653 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
2.614 AU
Eccentricity
0.7989
Perihelion
0.526 AU
Aphelion
4.702325 AU
Inclination
25.11°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
210.01°

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
2028-Apr-24 00:31 0.119139 AU
17822904 km
29.77 km/s
2040-Oct-03 12:35 0.269234 AU
40276796 km
34.47 km/s
2045-Feb-21 12:27 0.484674 AU
72506271 km
21.90 km/s
2061-Oct-26 21:40 0.216299 AU
32357908 km
21.77 km/s
2066-Apr-05 04:02 0.229690 AU
34361080 km
22.19 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
20.26

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.65304
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

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