SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2016 T2

Matheny

Matheny follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.981 carries it from 1.908 AU at perihelion out to 201.7 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 178
Orbital Period · P
1,027 yr
v(q)
30.4 km/s
v(Q)
0.3 km/s
TJ
0.31
Eccentricity · e
0.9813

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.908 AU) and its farthest (201.7 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 199.8 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1,027 yr (375,156 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 101.8 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.981) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 81.31° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 30.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0.3 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 0.31, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

Neither a measured diameter nor a reliable absolute magnitude is available for Matheny, so its physical size remains unconstrained.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 178 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6161 arcseconds.

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
101.8 AU
Eccentricity
0.9813
Perihelion
1.908 AU
Aphelion
201.69634 AU
Inclination
81.31°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2457721.5
Mean Anomaly
359.97°

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
—

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.61608
Condition
—
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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