SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2016 WN48

2016 WN48

2016 WN48 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 2.74 AU it takes 4.54 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 42
Orbital Period · P
4.54 yr
v(q)
38.5 km/s
v(Q)
8.4 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.04 km
TJ
3.01
Eccentricity · e
0.6408

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.984 AU) and its farthest (4.496 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3.512 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 4.54 yr (1,657 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.74 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.641) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 4.84° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 38.5 km/s at perihelion and falls to 8.4 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

The measured diameter is 0.14 km, a value from direct size determination rather than from brightness alone.

Its geometric albedo of 0.01 indicates a very dark, carbonaceous-type surface.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 42 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5304 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
2.74 AU
Eccentricity
0.6408
Perihelion
0.984 AU
Aphelion
4.495792 AU
Inclination
4.84°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2457722.5
Mean Anomaly
7.03°

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
0.144 km
Albedo
0.01
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
24.78

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.53045
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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