SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2017 DA38

2017 DA38

2017 DA38 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.897 AU it takes 2.61 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 155
Orbital Period · P
2.61 yr
v(q)
36.3 km/s
v(Q)
12.9 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.04 km
TJ
3.8
Eccentricity · e
0.4765

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.993 AU) and its farthest (2.801 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.808 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.61 yr (954 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.897 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.476) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 7.02° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 36.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 12.9 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 155 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3391 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 3 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
1.897 AU
Eccentricity
0.4765
Perihelion
0.993 AU
Aphelion
2.80092 AU
Inclination
7.02°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
201.99°

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
2030-Apr-12 21:22 0.416444 AU
62299166 km
19.41 km/s
2037-Dec-21 01:25 0.460125 AU
68833724 km
20.19 km/s
2051-Feb-06 10:50 0.063771 AU
9539988 km
7.54 km/s
2064-Mar-29 15:26 0.211004 AU
31565748 km
13.29 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
25.0

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.33908
Condition
3
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.