SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2009 O2

Catalina

Catalina follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.998 carries it from 0.696 AU at perihelion out to 555.5 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 281
Orbital Period · P
4,638 yr
v(q)
50.5 km/s
v(Q)
0.1 km/s
TJ
-0.3
Eccentricity · e
0.9975

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.696 AU) and its farthest (555.5 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 554.8 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 4,638 yr (1,693,915 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 278.1 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 108.0° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 50.5 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0.1 km/s at aphelion.

Because q < 1 AU and Q > 1 AU, this orbit geometrically intersects the region of Earth's orbit.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -0.3, 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 281 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.8407 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
278.1 AU
Eccentricity
0.9975
Perihelion
0.696 AU
Aphelion
555.50475 AU
Inclination
107.96°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2455135.5
Mean Anomaly
359.97°

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
0.84067
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.