SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2012 K5

LINEAR

LINEAR follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.999 carries it from 1.142 AU at perihelion out to 1,548.6 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 4,281
Orbital Period · P
21,571 yr
v(q)
39.4 km/s
v(Q)
0 km/s
TJ
-0.06
Eccentricity · e
0.9985

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.142 AU) and its farthest (1,548.6 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1,547.5 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 21,571 yr (7,878,775 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 774.9 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.999) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 92.85° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 39.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -0.06, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 4,281 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.738 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
774.9 AU
Eccentricity
0.9985
Perihelion
1.142 AU
Aphelion
1548.63765 AU
Inclination
92.85°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2456215.5
Mean Anomaly
360.0°

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
0.73802
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.

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