SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2017 QS16

2017 QS16

2017 QS16 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.813 AU it takes 2.44 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 92
Orbital Period · P
2.44 yr
v(q)
36.1 km/s
v(Q)
13.5 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.03 km
TJ
3.92
Eccentricity · e
0.4545

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.989 AU) and its farthest (2.637 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.648 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.44 yr (892 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.813 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.455) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 4.93° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 36.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 13.5 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 = 25.2 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.03 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 92 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.375 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 6 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
1.813 AU
Eccentricity
0.4545
Perihelion
0.989 AU
Aphelion
2.637008 AU
Inclination
4.93°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
208.52°

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
2034-Nov-14 17:30 0.302892 AU
45312031 km
20.50 km/s
2056-Nov-02 05:47 0.138109 AU
20660877 km
14.35 km/s
2061-Jul-19 01:45 0.237469 AU
35524820 km
17.07 km/s
2078-Oct-09 12:55 0.059093 AU
8840183 km
8.04 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
25.2

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.37505
Condition
6
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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