SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 FA4

2018 FA4

2018 FA4 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 2.552 AU it takes 4.08 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 36
Orbital Period · P
4.08 yr
v(q)
39.5 km/s
v(Q)
8.8 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.03 km
TJ
3.09
Eccentricity · e
0.6358

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.93 AU) and its farthest (4.175 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3.245 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 4.08 yr (1,489 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.552 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.636) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 13.16° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 39.5 km/s at perihelion and falls to 8.8 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 = 25.4 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.03 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 36 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4137 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 6 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
2.552 AU
Eccentricity
0.6358
Perihelion
0.93 AU
Aphelion
4.174562 AU
Inclination
13.16°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
12.93°

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
25.4

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.41371
Condition
6
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.

Keep exploring

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