SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 CT3

2018 CT3

2018 CT3 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.156 AU it takes 1.24 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 27
Orbital Period · P
1.24 yr
v(q)
38 km/s
v(Q)
20.2 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.09 km
TJ
5.34
Eccentricity · e
0.3067

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.801 AU) and its farthest (1.511 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.71 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.24 yr (454 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.156 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.307 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

A steep inclination of 20.32° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 38 km/s at perihelion and falls to 20.2 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 = 22.88 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.09 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 27 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4197 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 8 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
1.156 AU
Eccentricity
0.3067
Perihelion
0.801 AU
Aphelion
1.510545 AU
Inclination
20.32°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458162.5
Mean Anomaly
311.58°

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
2029-Aug-21 10:54 0.050886 AU
7612488 km
19.89 km/s
2064-Feb-03 14:18 0.291101 AU
43548074 km
21.39 km/s
2065-Aug-27 06:33 0.339492 AU
50787310 km
23.66 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
22.88

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.41967
Condition
8
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

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