SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2016 RG18

2016 RG18

2016 RG18 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 1.239 AU once every 1.38 yr.

Amor Observations: 35
Orbital Period · P
1.38 yr
v(q)
32 km/s
v(Q)
22.4 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.08 km
TJ
5.09
Eccentricity · e
0.1759

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.021 AU) and its farthest (1.457 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.436 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.38 yr (504 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.239 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.176 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

A steep inclination of 21.85° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 32 km/s at perihelion and falls to 22.4 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 = 23.26 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.08 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 35 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4667 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
1.239 AU
Eccentricity
0.1759
Perihelion
1.021 AU
Aphelion
1.45694 AU
Inclination
21.85°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
345.26°

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

Predicted close approaches to Earth, from NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).

Date (UTC)Miss distanceVelocity
2027-Sep-16 23:55 0.165189 AU
24711867 km
11.60 km/s
2034-Sep-02 06:55 0.276375 AU
41345040 km
18.85 km/s
2035-Feb-28 02:46 0.332447 AU
49733428 km
11.69 km/s
2045-Sep-08 09:54 0.114768 AU
17169026 km
14.99 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
23.26

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.46675
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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