SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2011 L1

McNaught

McNaught follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.797 carries it from 2.242 AU at perihelion out to 19.837 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 140
Orbital Period · P
36.7 yr
v(q)
26.7 km/s
v(Q)
3 km/s
TJ
1.2
Eccentricity · e
0.7968

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.242 AU) and its farthest (19.837 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 17.595 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 36.7 yr (13,398 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 11.04 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.797) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 65.51° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 26.7 km/s at perihelion and falls to 3 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 1.2, 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 140 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.8396 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 5 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
11.04 AU
Eccentricity
0.7968
Perihelion
2.242 AU
Aphelion
19.836672 AU
Inclination
65.51°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2455734.5
Mean Anomaly
4.99°

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
0.8396
Condition
5
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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