SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2006 CT9

2006 CT9

2006 CT9 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.194 AU it takes 1.30 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 83
Orbital Period · P
1.30 yr
v(q)
61.9 km/s
v(Q)
12 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.29 km
TJ
4.94
Eccentricity · e
0.6754

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.388 AU) and its farthest (2 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.612 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.30 yr (477 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.194 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.675) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 34.82° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 61.9 km/s at perihelion and falls to 12 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 = 20.43 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.29 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 83 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6245 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 0 means the orbit is very well determined, leaving only a small uncertainty in the future ephemeris.

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
1.194 AU
Eccentricity
0.6754
Perihelion
0.388 AU
Aphelion
2.000428 AU
Inclination
34.82°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
131.88°

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
2027-Feb-15 06:20 0.337346 AU
50466209 km
32.48 km/s
2040-Feb-23 17:28 0.254029 AU
38002211 km
25.04 km/s
2044-Feb-08 00:35 0.487372 AU
72909778 km
38.32 km/s
2053-Feb-23 16:49 0.404084 AU
60450129 km
20.73 km/s
2057-Feb-17 22:46 0.287294 AU
42978585 km
29.99 km/s
2070-Feb-24 13:56 0.284252 AU
42523479 km
23.31 km/s
2074-Feb-11 03:47 0.419862 AU
62810389 km
35.70 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
20.43

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.62452
Condition
0
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

Explore asteroids, comets and near-Earth objects with JPL orbital data.