SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2006 LF

2006 LF

2006 LF belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 2.144 AU it takes 3.14 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 137
Orbital Period · P
3.14 yr
v(q)
44.3 km/s
v(Q)
9.3 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.63 km
TJ
3.39
Eccentricity · e
0.652

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.746 AU) and its farthest (3.542 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.796 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 3.14 yr (1,147 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.144 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.652) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 7.97° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 44.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 9.3 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 = 18.75 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.63 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 137 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.423 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
2.144 AU
Eccentricity
0.652
Perihelion
0.746 AU
Aphelion
3.541888 AU
Inclination
7.97°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
155.54°

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
2050-Feb-17 08:13 0.196699 AU
29425695 km
13.69 km/s
2053-Jun-19 03:58 0.186730 AU
27934415 km
20.82 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
18.75

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.42305
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.