SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2009 K2

Catalina

Catalina follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.998 carries it from 3.246 AU at perihelion out to 2,918.8 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 665
Orbital Period · P
55,844 yr
v(q)
23.4 km/s
v(Q)
0 km/s
TJ
0.88
Eccentricity · e
0.9978

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.246 AU) and its farthest (2,918.8 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2,915.5 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 55,844 yr (20,396,965 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1,461.0 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.998) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 66.82° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 23.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 0.88, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 665 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6287 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
1461.0 AU
Eccentricity
0.9978
Perihelion
3.246 AU
Aphelion
2918.7858 AU
Inclination
66.82°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2455057.5
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
0.62871
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.

Keep exploring

Explore asteroids, comets and near-Earth objects with JPL orbital data.