SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2016 VS5

2016 VS5

2016 VS5 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.672 AU it takes 2.16 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 132
Orbital Period · P
2.16 yr
v(q)
35.4 km/s
v(Q)
15 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.39 km
TJ
4.11
Eccentricity · e
0.4063

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.993 AU) and its farthest (2.351 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.358 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.16 yr (790 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.672 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.406) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 14.9° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 35.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 15 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 = 19.8 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.39 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 132 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.592 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 0 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
1.672 AU
Eccentricity
0.4063
Perihelion
0.993 AU
Aphelion
2.351334 AU
Inclination
14.9°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
113.31°

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
2032-Apr-30 07:12 0.360948 AU
53997071 km
18.53 km/s
2045-Apr-20 19:09 0.192172 AU
28748450 km
14.30 km/s
2058-Apr-13 01:42 0.079901 AU
11953017 km
11.63 km/s
2071-Apr-09 23:12 0.053506 AU
8004400 km
10.82 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
19.8

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.59205
Condition
0
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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