SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2016 HE3

2016 HE3

2016 HE3 is an Aten-type near-Earth asteroid whose orbit lies mostly inside that of Earth, with a semi-major axis of 0.776 AU and a period of 0.68 yr.

Aten Observations: 87
Orbital Period · P
0.68 yr
v(q)
51.7 km/s
v(Q)
22.1 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.05 km
TJ
7.4
Eccentricity · e
0.401

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.465 AU) and its farthest (1.087 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.622 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 0.68 yr (250 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 0.776 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.401) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 10.66° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 51.7 km/s at perihelion and falls to 22.1 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

No direct size measurement is available; from an absolute magnitude of H = 24.3 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.05 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 87 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.398 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 7 signals a poorly constrained orbit, so its future path should be treated as provisional.

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
0.7757 AU
Eccentricity
0.401
Perihelion
0.465 AU
Aphelion
1.086756 AU
Inclination
10.66°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
126.98°

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
2027-May-14 00:56 0.196645 AU
29417723 km
18.43 km/s
2029-May-13 09:45 0.057527 AU
8605901 km
10.35 km/s
2033-Mar-23 10:18 0.121622 AU
18194377 km
15.57 km/s
2035-Apr-02 07:08 0.307074 AU
45937608 km
24.83 km/s
2040-May-09 06:05 0.166310 AU
24879659 km
22.43 km/s
2042-May-16 20:04 0.076826 AU
11493039 km
13.59 km/s

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

Physical Parameters

Diameter
— km
Albedo
—
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
24.3

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.398
Condition
7
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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