SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2012 BJ98

Lemmon

Lemmon follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.874 carries it from 2.157 AU at perihelion out to 31.982 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 155
Orbital Period · P
70.5 yr
v(q)
27.8 km/s
v(Q)
1.9 km/s
TJ
2.07
Eccentricity · e
0.8736

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.157 AU) and its farthest (31.982 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 29.825 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 70.5 yr (25,760 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 17.07 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.874) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 2.64° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 27.8 km/s at perihelion and falls to 1.9 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.07, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 155 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5688 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 4 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
17.07 AU
Eccentricity
0.8736
Perihelion
2.157 AU
Aphelion
31.982352 AU
Inclination
2.64°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2456027.5
Mean Anomaly
357.72°

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
—

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.56883
Condition
4
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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