SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2003 K1

Spacewatch

Spacewatch follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.95 carries it from 2.087 AU at perihelion out to 81.573 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 52
Orbital Period · P
271 yr
v(q)
28.8 km/s
v(Q)
0.7 km/s
TJ
-1.01
Eccentricity · e
0.9501

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.087 AU) and its farthest (81.573 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 79.486 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 271 yr (98,815 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 41.83 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.95) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 129.8° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 28.8 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0.7 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -1.01, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

Neither a measured diameter nor a reliable absolute magnitude is available for Spacewatch, so its physical size remains unconstrained.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 52 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6672 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
41.83 AU
Eccentricity
0.9501
Perihelion
2.087 AU
Aphelion
81.572683 AU
Inclination
129.83°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2452789.5
Mean Anomaly
0.58°

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
—

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.66723
Condition
7
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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