SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2017 K4

ATLAS

ATLAS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.906 carries it from 2.648 AU at perihelion out to 53.613 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 556
Orbital Period · P
149 yr
v(q)
25.3 km/s
v(Q)
1.2 km/s
TJ
2.07
Eccentricity · e
0.9059

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.648 AU) and its farthest (53.613 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 50.965 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 149 yr (54,494 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 28.13 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.906) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 16.68° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 25.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 1.2 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.07, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

Neither a measured diameter nor a reliable absolute magnitude is available for ATLAS, so its physical size remains unconstrained.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 556 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5588 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
28.13 AU
Eccentricity
0.9059
Perihelion
2.648 AU
Aphelion
53.612967 AU
Inclination
16.68°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458205.5
Mean Anomaly
0.52°

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

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
—

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.55883
Condition
3
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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