SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2006 XB

2006 XB

2006 XB belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.749 AU it takes 2.31 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 76
Orbital Period · P
2.31 yr
v(q)
38.8 km/s
v(Q)
13.1 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.22 km
TJ
3.98
Eccentricity · e
0.4963

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.881 AU) and its farthest (2.617 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.736 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.31 yr (845 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.749 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.496) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 6.84° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 38.8 km/s at perihelion and falls to 13.1 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 = 21.02 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.22 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 76 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5657 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
1.749 AU
Eccentricity
0.4963
Perihelion
0.881 AU
Aphelion
2.617029 AU
Inclination
6.84°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
122.46°

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
2037-Apr-30 07:00 0.184283 AU
27568354 km
14.87 km/s
2044-Feb-25 23:12 0.112344 AU
16806466 km
9.59 km/s
2050-Dec-30 05:12 0.173606 AU
25971054 km
15.55 km/s
2074-May-02 04:39 0.193458 AU
28940901 km
15.28 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
21.02

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.56571
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

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