SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2014 L3

Hill

Hill follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.773 carries it from 1.854 AU at perihelion out to 14.488 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 204
Orbital Period · P
23.4 yr
v(q)
29.1 km/s
v(Q)
3.7 km/s
TJ
2.22
Eccentricity · e
0.7731

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.854 AU) and its farthest (14.488 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 12.634 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 23.4 yr (8,531 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 8.171 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.773) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 6.26° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 29.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 3.7 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.22, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 204 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5136 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 4 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
8.171 AU
Eccentricity
0.7731
Perihelion
1.854 AU
Aphelion
14.488 AU
Inclination
6.26°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2456858.5
Mean Anomaly
0.9°

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
0.51358
Condition
4
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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