SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2017 RK15

2017 RK15

2017 RK15 is an Aten-type near-Earth asteroid whose orbit lies mostly inside that of Earth, with a semi-major axis of 0.863 AU and a period of 0.80 yr.

Aten Observations: 30
Orbital Period · P
0.80 yr
v(q)
50.1 km/s
v(Q)
20.5 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.03 km
TJ
6.76
Eccentricity · e
0.4191

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.502 AU) and its farthest (1.225 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.723 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 0.80 yr (293 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 0.863 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.419) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 5.74° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 50.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 20.5 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 = 25.68 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.03 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 30 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.657 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
0.8634 AU
Eccentricity
0.4191
Perihelion
0.502 AU
Aphelion
1.225251 AU
Inclination
5.74°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
77.95°

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
2026-Nov-24 02:11 0.295944 AU
44272613 km
20.70 km/s
2029-Aug-31 01:38 0.104373 AU
15614020 km
15.19 km/s
2030-Nov-26 22:54 0.230363 AU
34461785 km
18.43 km/s
2033-Sep-02 05:10 0.175581 AU
26266516 km
17.43 km/s
2034-Nov-29 11:20 0.167528 AU
25061868 km
16.10 km/s
2037-Sep-04 16:23 0.243338 AU
36402888 km
19.56 km/s
2038-Dec-01 08:55 0.120226 AU
17985581 km
13.96 km/s
2041-Sep-06 23:36 0.301462 AU
45098099 km
21.43 km/s
2042-Dec-02 09:17 0.098704 AU
14765899 km
12.07 km/s
2045-Sep-09 09:59 0.362912 AU
54290794 km
23.41 km/s
2046-May-06 19:55 0.495303 AU
74096247 km
19.25 km/s
2046-Dec-01 08:55 0.112246 AU
16791757 km
10.25 km/s
2049-Sep-12 04:19 0.427602 AU
63968299 km
25.50 km/s
2050-May-13 20:41 0.487582 AU
72941278 km
18.41 km/s
2050-Nov-25 15:14 0.150730 AU
22548860 km
9.03 km/s
2053-Sep-14 22:31 0.492489 AU
73675285 km
27.66 km/s
2054-May-21 05:37 0.476921 AU
71346333 km
17.34 km/s
2054-Nov-15 12:17 0.188826 AU
28247957 km
8.92 km/s
2058-May-28 18:32 0.463443 AU
69330130 km
16.06 km/s
2058-Nov-05 14:48 0.215431 AU
32228073 km
9.19 km/s
2062-Jun-06 20:23 0.443450 AU
66339231 km
14.33 km/s
2062-Oct-26 04:13 0.233277 AU
34897694 km
9.45 km/s
2063-Jan-28 10:53 0.359658 AU
53804124 km
10.15 km/s
2066-Jun-17 17:16 0.415409 AU
62144302 km
12.09 km/s
2066-Oct-15 15:39 0.238188 AU
35632347 km
9.56 km/s
2067-Feb-10 04:06 0.397347 AU
59442272 km
12.95 km/s
2070-Jul-01 14:12 0.376741 AU
56359586 km
9.04 km/s
2070-Oct-05 03:29 0.228951 AU
34250620 km
9.49 km/s
2071-Feb-20 16:58 0.426456 AU
63796870 km
15.12 km/s
2074-Sep-24 18:49 0.205997 AU
30816717 km
9.28 km/s
2075-Mar-01 18:01 0.448289 AU
67063147 km
16.78 km/s
2078-Sep-15 00:28 0.172416 AU
25793104 km
9.09 km/s
2079-Mar-09 15:04 0.464463 AU
69482745 km
18.01 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
25.68

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.65703
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.

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