SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2013 J6

Catalina

Catalina follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.96 carries it from 2.416 AU at perihelion out to 117.3 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 129
Orbital Period · P
463 yr
v(q)
26.8 km/s
v(Q)
0.6 km/s
TJ
0.25
Eccentricity · e
0.9596

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.416 AU) and its farthest (117.3 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 114.8 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 463 yr (169,074 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 59.84 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.96) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 85.05° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 26.8 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0.6 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 0.25, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 129 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5016 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
59.84 AU
Eccentricity
0.9596
Perihelion
2.416 AU
Aphelion
117.262464 AU
Inclination
85.05°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2456439.5
Mean Anomaly
0.1°

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
0.50161
Condition
5
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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