SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2006 WM3

2006 WM3

2006 WM3 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.982 AU it takes 2.79 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 48
Orbital Period · P
2.79 yr
v(q)
39.1 km/s
v(Q)
11.4 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.07 km
TJ
3.66
Eccentricity · e
0.5481

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.896 AU) and its farthest (3.068 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.172 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.79 yr (1,019 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.982 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.548) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 2.01° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 39.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 11.4 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 = 23.38 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.07 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 48 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6599 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 6 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
1.982 AU
Eccentricity
0.5481
Perihelion
0.896 AU
Aphelion
3.068334 AU
Inclination
2.01°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
342.42°

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
2032-Apr-05 13:40 0.219915 AU
32898758 km
20.18 km/s
2046-Mar-25 15:40 0.036992 AU
5533918 km
14.82 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
23.38

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.65989
Condition
6
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

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