SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2005 N4

Catalina

Catalina follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.961 carries it from 2.304 AU at perihelion out to 114.7 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 206
Orbital Period · P
447 yr
v(q)
27.5 km/s
v(Q)
0.6 km/s
TJ
-0.75
Eccentricity · e
0.9606

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.304 AU) and its farthest (114.7 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 112.4 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 447 yr (163,385 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 58.49 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.961) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 116.6° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 27.5 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0.6 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -0.75, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 206 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5463 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 5 indicates a moderately constrained orbit; predictions decades ahead still carry noticeable uncertainty.

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
58.49 AU
Eccentricity
0.9606
Perihelion
2.304 AU
Aphelion
114.675494 AU
Inclination
116.63°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2453565.5
Mean Anomaly
0.03°

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
0.54626
Condition
5
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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