SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2016 DL

2016 DL

2016 DL is an Aten-type near-Earth asteroid whose orbit lies mostly inside that of Earth, with a semi-major axis of 0.714 AU and a period of 0.60 yr.

Aten Observations: 84
Orbital Period · P
0.60 yr
v(q)
58.8 km/s
v(Q)
21.1 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.19 km
TJ
7.88
Eccentricity · e
0.4712

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.378 AU) and its farthest (1.051 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.673 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 0.60 yr (221 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 0.714 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.471) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 23.85° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 58.8 km/s at perihelion and falls to 21.1 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

The measured diameter is 0.23 km, a value from direct size determination rather than from brightness alone.

A geometric albedo of 0.103 points to a comparatively bright, reflective surface.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 84 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5509 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 1 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
0.7143 AU
Eccentricity
0.4712
Perihelion
0.378 AU
Aphelion
1.050878 AU
Inclination
23.85°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
209.17°

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
2048-Jan-18 03:55 0.136427 AU
20409121 km
13.68 km/s
2051-Jan-15 08:26 0.059273 AU
8867179 km
15.00 km/s
2054-Jan-15 17:08 0.077776 AU
11635060 km
17.15 km/s
2057-Jan-17 21:27 0.170279 AU
25473321 km
19.89 km/s

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

Physical Parameters

Diameter
0.228 km
Albedo
0.103
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
21.4

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.55094
Condition
1
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

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