SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2017 QJ18

2017 QJ18

2017 QJ18 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 2.901 AU once every 4.94 yr.

Amor Observations: 121
Orbital Period · P
4.94 yr
v(q)
36.1 km/s
v(Q)
8.5 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.37 km
TJ
2.95
Eccentricity · e
0.619

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.105 AU) and its farthest (4.697 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3.592 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 4.94 yr (1,805 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.901 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.619) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 10.21° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 36.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 8.5 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 = 19.91 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.37 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 121 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4906 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
2.901 AU
Eccentricity
0.619
Perihelion
1.105 AU
Aphelion
4.696719 AU
Inclination
10.21°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
267.3°

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

No close approaches to Earth are currently on record for this object.

Physical Parameters

Diameter
— km
Albedo
—
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
19.91

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.49064
Condition
0
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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