SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2014 J1

Catalina

Catalina follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.802 carries it from 1.709 AU at perihelion out to 15.584 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 103
Orbital Period · P
25.4 yr
v(q)
30.6 km/s
v(Q)
3.4 km/s
TJ
-0.84
Eccentricity · e
0.8024

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.709 AU) and its farthest (15.584 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 13.875 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 25.4 yr (9,286 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 8.646 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.802) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 159.7° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 30.6 km/s at perihelion and falls to 3.4 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -0.84, 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 103 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6374 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 7 signals a poorly constrained orbit, so its future path should be treated as provisional.

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
8.646 AU
Eccentricity
0.8024
Perihelion
1.709 AU
Aphelion
15.58355 AU
Inclination
159.7°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2456794.5
Mean Anomaly
358.68°

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
0.63738
Condition
7
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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