SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2016 LU

2016 LU

2016 LU is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 1.492 AU once every 1.82 yr.

Amor Observations: 24
Orbital Period · P
1.82 yr
v(q)
32.5 km/s
v(Q)
18.3 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.05 km
TJ
4.5
Eccentricity · e
0.2806

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.073 AU) and its farthest (1.911 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.838 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.82 yr (666 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.492 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.281 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 10.25° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 32.5 km/s at perihelion and falls to 18.3 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

No direct size measurement is available; from an absolute magnitude of H = 24.1 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.05 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 24 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3485 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
1.492 AU
Eccentricity
0.2806
Perihelion
1.073 AU
Aphelion
1.910655 AU
Inclination
10.25°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
195.26°

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
24.1

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.34849
Condition
7
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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