SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 AB12

2018 AB12

2018 AB12 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.083 AU it takes 1.13 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 75
Orbital Period · P
1.13 yr
v(q)
35.2 km/s
v(Q)
23.3 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.05 km
TJ
5.68
Eccentricity · e
0.2028

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.863 AU) and its farthest (1.303 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.44 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.13 yr (412 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.083 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.203 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 12.46° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 35.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 23.3 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 = 24.4 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.05 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 75 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.408 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 5 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
1.083 AU
Eccentricity
0.2028
Perihelion
0.863 AU
Aphelion
1.302632 AU
Inclination
12.46°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
233.67°

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
2027-Jan-10 07:24 0.067592 AU
10111678 km
9.44 km/s
2034-Jul-16 09:31 0.111728 AU
16714203 km
11.25 km/s
2035-Apr-02 04:12 0.383390 AU
57354331 km
6.69 km/s
2036-Jan-13 16:50 0.176504 AU
26404670 km
12.73 km/s
2043-Jul-23 10:50 0.001865 AU
278971 km
8.57 km/s
2044-Mar-05 22:03 0.347999 AU
52059857 km
7.19 km/s
2045-Jan-17 17:35 0.319449 AU
47788882 km
18.44 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
24.4

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.40802
Condition
5
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.

Keep exploring

Explore asteroids, comets and near-Earth objects with JPL orbital data.