SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2012 L3

LINEAR

LINEAR follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.991 carries it from 3.045 AU at perihelion out to 658.4 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 255
Orbital Period · P
6,014 yr
v(q)
24.1 km/s
v(Q)
0.1 km/s
TJ
-1.49
Eccentricity · e
0.9908

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.045 AU) and its farthest (658.4 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 655.3 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 6,014 yr (2,196,552 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 330.7 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.991) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 134.2° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 24.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0.1 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -1.49, 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 255 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6875 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
330.7 AU
Eccentricity
0.9908
Perihelion
3.045 AU
Aphelion
658.35756 AU
Inclination
134.2°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2456126.5
Mean Anomaly
0.01°

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
0.68754
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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