SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2009 UL

2009 UL

2009 UL belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.254 AU it takes 1.40 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 34
Orbital Period · P
1.40 yr
v(q)
41.8 km/s
v(Q)
16.9 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.13 km
TJ
5.01
Eccentricity · e
0.4225

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.724 AU) and its farthest (1.784 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.06 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.40 yr (513 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.254 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.422) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 14.05° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 41.8 km/s at perihelion and falls to 16.9 km/s at aphelion.

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

Size and surface

No direct size measurement is available; from an absolute magnitude of H = 22.2 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.13 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 34 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5623 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 9 signals a poorly constrained orbit, so its future path should be treated as provisional.

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
1.254 AU
Eccentricity
0.4225
Perihelion
0.724 AU
Aphelion
1.783815 AU
Inclination
14.05°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2455124.5
Mean Anomaly
285.72°

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
22.2

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.56226
Condition
9
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.