SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2017 KR4

2017 KR4

2017 KR4 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.793 AU it takes 2.40 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 82
Orbital Period · P
2.40 yr
v(q)
37 km/s
v(Q)
13.4 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.18 km
TJ
3.78
Eccentricity · e
0.4689

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.952 AU) and its farthest (2.634 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.682 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.40 yr (877 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.793 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.469) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 31.75° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 37 km/s at perihelion and falls to 13.4 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

No direct size measurement is available; from an absolute magnitude of H = 21.5 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.18 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 82 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4596 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 7 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
1.793 AU
Eccentricity
0.4689
Perihelion
0.952 AU
Aphelion
2.633738 AU
Inclination
31.75°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
300.3°

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
2028-Dec-26 20:13 0.396408 AU
59301843 km
16.19 km/s
2029-May-27 06:29 0.241543 AU
36134385 km
20.00 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
21.5

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.45955
Condition
7
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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