SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 HQ

2018 HQ

2018 HQ belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.81 AU it takes 2.44 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 44
Orbital Period · P
2.44 yr
v(q)
42.8 km/s
v(Q)
11.4 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.18 km
TJ
3.81
Eccentricity · e
0.5786

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.763 AU) and its farthest (2.857 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.094 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.44 yr (889 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.81 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.579) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 13.75° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 42.8 km/s at perihelion and falls to 11.4 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 = 21.53 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.18 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 44 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6074 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
1.81 AU
Eccentricity
0.5786
Perihelion
0.763 AU
Aphelion
2.857266 AU
Inclination
13.75°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
90.08°

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
2030-Oct-26 23:13 0.314246 AU
47010537 km
27.64 km/s
2040-Apr-24 18:55 0.226929 AU
33948169 km
24.32 km/s
2057-May-11 13:30 0.164574 AU
24619937 km
15.17 km/s
2069-Oct-18 04:46 0.183438 AU
27441913 km
22.77 km/s
2074-Jul-01 18:18 0.312027 AU
46678569 km
12.79 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
21.53

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.60744
Condition
6
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.