SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2016 VA

2016 VA

2016 VA is an Aten-type near-Earth asteroid whose orbit lies mostly inside that of Earth, with a semi-major axis of 0.921 AU and a period of 0.88 yr.

Aten Observations: 45
Orbital Period · P
0.88 yr
v(q)
56.4 km/s
v(Q)
17.1 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.01 km
TJ
6.27
Eccentricity · e
0.535

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.428 AU) and its farthest (1.414 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.986 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 0.88 yr (323 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 0.921 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.535) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 29.69° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 56.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 17.1 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 = 27.6 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.01 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 45 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.2675 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
0.9209 AU
Eccentricity
0.535
Perihelion
0.428 AU
Aphelion
1.413582 AU
Inclination
29.69°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
223.44°

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
27.6

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.26749
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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