SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2003 GD42

2003 GD42

2003 GD42 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.295 AU it takes 1.47 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 30
Orbital Period · P
1.47 yr
v(q)
33.1 km/s
v(Q)
20.7 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.04 km
TJ
4.97
Eccentricity · e
0.2289

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.998 AU) and its farthest (1.591 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.593 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.47 yr (538 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.295 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.229 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 12.25° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 33.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 20.7 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 = 24.7 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.04 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 30 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5477 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
1.295 AU
Eccentricity
0.2289
Perihelion
0.998 AU
Aphelion
1.591425 AU
Inclination
12.25°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
275.55°

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
2034-Feb-11 19:09 0.387895 AU
58028210 km
13.93 km/s
2034-Jun-26 08:16 0.432627 AU
64720072 km
4.40 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
24.7

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.54775
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.

Keep exploring

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