SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2006 M1

LINEAR

LINEAR follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.977 carries it from 3.556 AU at perihelion out to 303.8 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 629
Orbital Period · P
1,906 yr
v(q)
22.2 km/s
v(Q)
0.3 km/s
TJ
1.37
Eccentricity · e
0.9769

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.556 AU) and its farthest (303.8 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 300.3 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1,906 yr (695,987 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 153.7 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.977) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 54.88° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 22.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0.3 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 1.37, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 629 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6744 arcseconds.

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
153.7 AU
Eccentricity
0.9769
Perihelion
3.556 AU
Aphelion
303.84953 AU
Inclination
54.88°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2454093.5
Mean Anomaly
359.97°

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
0.67445
Condition
—
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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