SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2016 NQ55

2016 NQ55

2016 NQ55 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 2.356 AU once every 3.62 yr.

Amor Observations: 45
Orbital Period · P
3.62 yr
v(q)
32.7 km/s
v(Q)
11.5 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.43 km
TJ
3.34
Eccentricity · e
0.4791

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.228 AU) and its farthest (3.485 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.257 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 3.62 yr (1,321 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.356 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.479) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 16.01° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 32.7 km/s at perihelion and falls to 11.5 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 = 19.61 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.43 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 45 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5102 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 2 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
2.356 AU
Eccentricity
0.4791
Perihelion
1.228 AU
Aphelion
3.48476 AU
Inclination
16.01°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
237.98°

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-Aug-19 21:13 0.413795 AU
61902907 km
12.05 km/s
2056-Aug-19 11:04 0.465515 AU
69640073 km
12.95 km/s
2074-Aug-13 23:00 0.382481 AU
57218416 km
7.78 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
19.61

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.51024
Condition
2
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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