SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2004 HV60

Spacewatch

Spacewatch follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.949 carries it from 3.074 AU at perihelion out to 118.0 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 27
Orbital Period · P
471 yr
v(q)
23.7 km/s
v(Q)
0.6 km/s
TJ
-0.02
Eccentricity · e
0.9492

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.074 AU) and its farthest (118.0 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 115.0 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 471 yr (172,135 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 60.56 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.949) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 92.71° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 23.7 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0.6 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -0.02, 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 27 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3645 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 8 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
60.56 AU
Eccentricity
0.9492
Perihelion
3.074 AU
Aphelion
118.043552 AU
Inclination
92.71°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2453125.5
Mean Anomaly
0.28°

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
0.36455
Condition
8
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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