SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2009 SP

2009 SP

2009 SP is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 2.219 AU once every 3.31 yr.

Amor Observations: 135
Orbital Period · P
3.31 yr
v(q)
34.4 km/s
v(Q)
11.6 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.47 km
TJ
3.37
Eccentricity · e
0.495

Orbit and dynamics

The path is an ellipse reaching 1.121 AU from the Sun at perihelion and 3.317 AU at aphelion, a radial span of 2.196 AU.

Applying Kepler's third law to a = 2.219 AU gives an orbital period of 3.31 yr, or about 1,207 days.

The high eccentricity (0.495) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 25.27° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 34.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 11.6 km/s at aphelion.

Its perihelion lies just outside Earth's orbit, which is why it is classed as Earth-approaching rather than Earth-crossing.

Size and surface

The measured diameter is 0.48 km, a value from direct size determination rather than from brightness alone.

A geometric albedo of 0.119 points to a comparatively bright, reflective surface.

Observation record and orbit quality

The current orbit solution is based on 135 observations and has a weighted RMS residual of 0.5409 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
2.219 AU
Eccentricity
0.495
Perihelion
1.121 AU
Aphelion
3.317405 AU
Inclination
25.27°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
349.38°

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
2052-Oct-12 02:44 0.472273 AU
70651099 km
12.47 km/s
2062-Oct-16 06:24 0.376302 AU
56293984 km
16.12 km/s
2063-Jan-29 02:09 0.489276 AU
73194690 km
11.07 km/s

Distances in astronomical units (AU) and kilometres. Source: NASA/JPL CNEOS Close Approach Data API.

Physical Parameters

Diameter
0.485 km
Albedo
0.119
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
19.4

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.54089
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

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