SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2014 MD42

2014 MD42

2014 MD42 is an Aten-type near-Earth asteroid whose orbit lies mostly inside that of Earth, with a semi-major axis of 0.858 AU and a period of 0.80 yr.

Aten Observations: 11
Orbital Period · P
0.80 yr
v(q)
42.7 km/s
v(Q)
24.2 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.04 km
TJ
6.84
Eccentricity · e
0.2771

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.621 AU) and its farthest (1.096 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.475 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 0.80 yr (290 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 0.858 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.277 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 6.97° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 42.7 km/s at perihelion and falls to 24.2 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

No direct size measurement is available; from an absolute magnitude of H = 24.5 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.04 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 11 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3467 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 8 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
0.8584 AU
Eccentricity
0.2771
Perihelion
0.621 AU
Aphelion
1.096263 AU
Inclination
6.97°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2456839.5
Mean Anomaly
188.75°

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
24.5

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.34667
Condition
8
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.

Keep exploring

Explore asteroids, comets and near-Earth objects with JPL orbital data.