SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2017 BK3

2017 BK3

2017 BK3 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 2.217 AU once every 3.30 yr.

Amor Observations: 63
Orbital Period · P
3.30 yr
v(q)
32.5 km/s
v(Q)
12.3 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.32 km
TJ
3.42
Eccentricity · e
0.451

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.217 AU) and its farthest (3.217 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 3.30 yr (1,206 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.217 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.451) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 22.99° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 32.5 km/s at perihelion and falls to 12.3 km/s at aphelion.

Its perihelion lies just outside Earth's orbit, which is why it is classed as Earth-approaching rather than Earth-crossing.

Size and surface

No direct size measurement is available; from an absolute magnitude of H = 20.2 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.32 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 63 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5989 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 4 indicates a moderately constrained orbit; predictions decades ahead still carry noticeable uncertainty.

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
2.217 AU
Eccentricity
0.451
Perihelion
1.217 AU
Aphelion
3.216867 AU
Inclination
22.99°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
316.84°

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
2050-Jan-21 11:54 0.439101 AU
65688516 km
11.57 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
20.2

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.59893
Condition
4
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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