SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2015 D5

Kowalski

Kowalski follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.5 carries it from 4.577 AU at perihelion out to 13.718 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 114
Orbital Period · P
27.7 yr
v(q)
17 km/s
v(Q)
5.7 km/s
TJ
2.72
Eccentricity · e
0.4996

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (4.577 AU) and its farthest (13.718 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 9.141 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 27.7 yr (10,106 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 9.148 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.5) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 20.4° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 17 km/s at perihelion and falls to 5.7 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.72, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 114 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4977 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
9.148 AU
Eccentricity
0.4996
Perihelion
4.577 AU
Aphelion
13.718341 AU
Inclination
20.4°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2457087.5
Mean Anomaly
11.5°

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
0.49771
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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