SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2017 RT15

2017 RT15

2017 RT15 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 2.154 AU once every 3.16 yr.

Amor Observations: 11
Orbital Period · P
3.16 yr
v(q)
33.9 km/s
v(Q)
12.1 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.09 km
TJ
3.54
Eccentricity · e
0.4731

Orbit and dynamics

The path is an ellipse reaching 1.135 AU from the Sun at perihelion and 3.173 AU at aphelion, a radial span of 2.038 AU.

Applying Kepler's third law to a = 2.154 AU gives an orbital period of 3.16 yr, or about 1,155 days.

The high eccentricity (0.473) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 6.3° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 33.9 km/s at perihelion and falls to 12.1 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 = 23.1 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.09 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

The current orbit solution is based on 11 observations and has a weighted RMS residual of 0.3478 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 9 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
2.154 AU
Eccentricity
0.4731
Perihelion
1.135 AU
Aphelion
3.173057 AU
Inclination
6.3°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458012.5
Mean Anomaly
12.97°

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
23.1

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.34779
Condition
9
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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