SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2002 TZ68

2002 TZ68

2002 TZ68 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 2.212 AU once every 3.29 yr.

Amor Observations: 13
Orbital Period · P
3.29 yr
v(q)
36.5 km/s
v(Q)
11 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.02 km
TJ
3.45
Eccentricity · e
0.5365

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.025 AU) and its farthest (3.399 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.374 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 3.29 yr (1,202 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.212 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.536) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 3.04° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 36.5 km/s at perihelion and falls to 11 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 = 26.4 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.02 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 13 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4134 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
2.212 AU
Eccentricity
0.5365
Perihelion
1.025 AU
Aphelion
3.398738 AU
Inclination
3.04°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2452557.5
Mean Anomaly
0.15°

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
26.4

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.41345
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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