SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2008 N1

Holmes

Holmes follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.997 carries it from 2.784 AU at perihelion out to 1,943.4 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 1,522
Orbital Period · P
30,355 yr
v(q)
25.2 km/s
v(Q)
0 km/s
TJ
-0.89
Eccentricity · e
0.9971

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.784 AU) and its farthest (1,943.4 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1,940.6 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 30,355 yr (11,087,316 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 973.1 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.997) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 115.5° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 25.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -0.89, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 1,522 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6389 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
973.1 AU
Eccentricity
0.9971
Perihelion
2.784 AU
Aphelion
1943.37801 AU
Inclination
115.52°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2455004.5
Mean Anomaly
360.0°

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
0.63888
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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