SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2013 G1

Kowalski

Kowalski follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.512 carries it from 3.353 AU at perihelion out to 10.401 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 261
Orbital Period · P
18.0 yr
v(q)
20 km/s
v(Q)
6.4 km/s
TJ
2.72
Eccentricity · e
0.5124

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.353 AU) and its farthest (10.401 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 7.048 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 18.0 yr (6,587 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 6.877 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.512) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 5.47° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 20 km/s at perihelion and falls to 6.4 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.72, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 261 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6437 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 3 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
6.877 AU
Eccentricity
0.5124
Perihelion
3.353 AU
Aphelion
10.400775 AU
Inclination
5.47°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2456667.5
Mean Anomaly
1.64°

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
0.64369
Condition
3
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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