SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2016 FO12

2016 FO12

2016 FO12 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 2.527 AU it takes 4.02 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 58
Orbital Period · P
4.02 yr
v(q)
38.6 km/s
v(Q)
9.1 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.12 km
TJ
3.15
Eccentricity · e
0.6192

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.962 AU) and its farthest (4.092 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3.13 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 4.02 yr (1,467 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.527 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.619) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 4.21° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 38.6 km/s at perihelion and falls to 9.1 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 0.18 km, a value from direct size determination rather than from brightness alone.

Its geometric albedo of 0.048 indicates a very dark, carbonaceous-type surface.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 58 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3882 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
2.527 AU
Eccentricity
0.6192
Perihelion
0.962 AU
Aphelion
4.091718 AU
Inclination
4.21°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
206.3°

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
0.183 km
Albedo
0.048
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
22.35

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.38819
Condition
1
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.