SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2012 YQ3

2012 YQ3

2012 YQ3 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 2.79 AU once every 4.66 yr.

Amor Observations: 71
Orbital Period · P
4.66 yr
v(q)
36.2 km/s
v(Q)
8.8 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.14 km
TJ
3.01
Eccentricity · e
0.6092

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.09 AU) and its farthest (4.49 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3.4 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 4.66 yr (1,702 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.79 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.609) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 8.24° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 36.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 8.8 km/s at aphelion.

Its perihelion lies just outside Earth's orbit, which is why it is classed as Earth-approaching rather than Earth-crossing.

Size and surface

No direct size measurement is available; from an absolute magnitude of H = 22.1 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.14 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 71 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4347 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
2.79 AU
Eccentricity
0.6092
Perihelion
1.09 AU
Aphelion
4.489668 AU
Inclination
8.24°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
306.55°

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

Predicted close approaches to Earth, from NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).

Date (UTC)Miss distanceVelocity
2027-Feb-15 16:32 0.158961 AU
23780280 km
7.31 km/s
2060-Jan-26 23:05 0.216070 AU
32323672 km
9.67 km/s
2079-Feb-16 18:18 0.244839 AU
36627435 km
7.52 km/s

Distances in astronomical units (AU) and kilometres. Source: NASA/JPL CNEOS Close Approach Data API.

Physical Parameters

Diameter
— km
Albedo
—
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
22.1

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.43466
Condition
5
Orbit ID
—
Data source: NASA JPL Small-Body Database · NASA CNEOS. 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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