SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2017 BM31

2017 BM31

2017 BM31 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.783 AU it takes 2.38 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 363
Orbital Period · P
2.38 yr
v(q)
38.3 km/s
v(Q)
13 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.25 km
TJ
3.93
Eccentricity · e
0.4931

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.904 AU) and its farthest (2.662 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.758 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.38 yr (870 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.783 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.493) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 6.61° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 38.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 13 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 = 20.76 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.25 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 363 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3228 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
1.783 AU
Eccentricity
0.4931
Perihelion
0.904 AU
Aphelion
2.662197 AU
Inclination
6.61°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
286.98°

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
2029-Mar-10 15:24 0.153906 AU
23024071 km
14.84 km/s
2036-Jul-23 14:00 0.299617 AU
44822044 km
19.70 km/s
2048-Apr-05 07:08 0.121009 AU
18102682 km
8.91 km/s
2055-Aug-03 11:43 0.488129 AU
73023051 km
25.21 km/s
2067-May-27 05:56 0.146363 AU
21895597 km
8.84 km/s
2079-Feb-22 11:53 0.443363 AU
66326163 km
24.08 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
20.76

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.32284
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

Explore asteroids, comets and near-Earth objects with JPL orbital data.