SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2012 XH16

2012 XH16

2012 XH16 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 1.632 AU once every 2.08 yr.

Amor Observations: 66
Orbital Period · P
2.08 yr
v(q)
34 km/s
v(Q)
16 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.12 km
TJ
4.23
Eccentricity · e
0.3605

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.044 AU) and its farthest (2.22 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.176 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.08 yr (762 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.632 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.36 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

Its inclination of 3.76° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 34 km/s at perihelion and falls to 16 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 = 22.3 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.12 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 66 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4346 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
1.632 AU
Eccentricity
0.3605
Perihelion
1.044 AU
Aphelion
2.220336 AU
Inclination
3.76°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
128.97°

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
2036-Jan-25 13:21 0.217016 AU
32465117 km
9.92 km/s
2038-Jan-04 07:31 0.365333 AU
54652975 km
1.46 km/s
2038-Apr-05 10:32 0.284992 AU
42634162 km
12.50 km/s
2061-Jan-25 11:54 0.209942 AU
31406817 km
9.71 km/s
2063-Jan-03 13:34 0.363772 AU
54419547 km
1.60 km/s
2063-Apr-06 07:08 0.289018 AU
43236428 km
12.63 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
22.3

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.4346
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.

Keep exploring

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