SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2015 WC13

2015 WC13

2015 WC13 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 2.276 AU once every 3.43 yr.

Amor Observations: 326
Orbital Period · P
3.43 yr
v(q)
32.8 km/s
v(Q)
11.9 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.43 km
TJ
3.36
Eccentricity · e
0.4671

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.213 AU) and its farthest (3.339 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.126 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 3.43 yr (1,254 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.276 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.467) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 23.42° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 32.8 km/s at perihelion and falls to 11.9 km/s at aphelion.

Its perihelion lies just outside Earth's orbit, which is why it is classed as Earth-approaching rather than Earth-crossing.

Size and surface

The measured diameter is 0.88 km, a value from direct size determination rather than from brightness alone.

Its geometric albedo of 0.033 indicates a very dark, carbonaceous-type surface.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 326 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4451 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
2.276 AU
Eccentricity
0.4671
Perihelion
1.213 AU
Aphelion
3.33912 AU
Inclination
23.42°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
2.27°

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
2046-Dec-25 08:33 0.435326 AU
65123795 km
16.22 km/s
2070-Dec-26 04:53 0.309414 AU
46287725 km
13.88 km/s

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

Physical Parameters

Diameter
0.882 km
Albedo
0.033
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
19.61

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.44512
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.

Keep exploring

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