SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2013 WT44

2013 WT44

2013 WT44 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 2.264 AU it takes 3.41 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 563
Orbital Period · P
3.41 yr
v(q)
37.6 km/s
v(Q)
10.4 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.49 km
TJ
3.36
Eccentricity · e
0.5657

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.983 AU) and its farthest (3.545 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.562 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 3.41 yr (1,244 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.264 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.566) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 12.21° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 37.6 km/s at perihelion and falls to 10.4 km/s at aphelion.

Because q < 1 AU and Q > 1 AU, this orbit geometrically intersects the region of Earth's orbit.

Size and surface

The measured diameter is 0.65 km, a value from direct size determination rather than from brightness alone.

Its geometric albedo of 0.079 indicates a very dark, carbonaceous-type surface.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 563 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.2992 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 0 means the orbit is very well determined, leaving only a small uncertainty in the future ephemeris.

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
2.264 AU
Eccentricity
0.5657
Perihelion
0.983 AU
Aphelion
3.544745 AU
Inclination
12.21°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
221.21°

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
2031-Mar-23 18:43 0.067256 AU
10061324 km
12.07 km/s
2048-Mar-31 10:34 0.149334 AU
22340049 km
14.37 km/s
2065-Apr-14 14:53 0.325377 AU
48675734 km
19.48 km/s

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

Physical Parameters

Diameter
0.653 km
Albedo
0.079
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
19.3

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.29924
Condition
0
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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