SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 A6

Gibbs

Gibbs follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.803 carries it from 3.018 AU at perihelion out to 27.682 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 915
Orbital Period · P
60.1 yr
v(q)
23 km/s
v(Q)
2.5 km/s
TJ
0.8
Eccentricity · e
0.8034

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.018 AU) and its farthest (27.682 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 24.664 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 60.1 yr (21,966 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 15.35 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.803) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 76.95° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 23 km/s at perihelion and falls to 2.5 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 0.8, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 915 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5768 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 2 means the orbit is very well determined, leaving only a small uncertainty in the future ephemeris.

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
15.35 AU
Eccentricity
0.8034
Perihelion
3.018 AU
Aphelion
27.68219 AU
Inclination
76.95°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458827.5
Mean Anomaly
2.44°

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
0.57677
Condition
2
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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