SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2017 TH6

2017 TH6

2017 TH6 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.781 AU it takes 2.38 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 78
Orbital Period · P
2.38 yr
v(q)
38.4 km/s
v(Q)
13 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.17 km
TJ
3.94
Eccentricity · e
0.4958

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.898 AU) and its farthest (2.664 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.766 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.38 yr (868 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.781 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.496) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 3.85° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 38.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 13 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 = 21.54 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.17 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 78 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5243 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 4 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
1.781 AU
Eccentricity
0.4958
Perihelion
0.898 AU
Aphelion
2.66402 AU
Inclination
3.85°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
200.64°

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
2037-Jan-02 16:46 0.095212 AU
14243451 km
8.31 km/s
2056-Jan-05 01:13 0.094318 AU
14109742 km
8.34 km/s
2074-Dec-22 02:50 0.101141 AU
15130538 km
8.31 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
21.54

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.52429
Condition
4
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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