SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2016 VK2

2016 VK2

2016 VK2 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.781 AU it takes 2.38 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 24
Orbital Period · P
2.38 yr
v(q)
44.8 km/s
v(Q)
11.1 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.04 km
TJ
3.86
Eccentricity · e
0.6018

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.709 AU) and its farthest (2.853 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.144 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.38 yr (868 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.781 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.602) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 2.64° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 44.8 km/s at perihelion and falls to 11.1 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 = 25 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.04 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 24 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6965 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 8 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
1.781 AU
Eccentricity
0.6018
Perihelion
0.709 AU
Aphelion
2.852806 AU
Inclination
2.64°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2457700.5
Mean Anomaly
337.4°

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
25.0

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.69645
Condition
8
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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