SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2008 Y3

McNaught

McNaught follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.448 carries it from 4.434 AU at perihelion out to 11.622 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 164
Orbital Period · P
22.7 yr
v(q)
17 km/s
v(Q)
6.5 km/s
TJ
2.38
Eccentricity · e
0.4477

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (4.434 AU) and its farthest (11.622 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 7.188 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 22.7 yr (8,308 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 8.028 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.448) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 38.81° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 17 km/s at perihelion and falls to 6.5 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.38, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 164 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6972 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 3 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
8.028 AU
Eccentricity
0.4477
Perihelion
4.434 AU
Aphelion
11.622136 AU
Inclination
38.81°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2454879.5
Mean Anomaly
1.56°

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
0.69721
Condition
3
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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