SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 LA

2018 LA

2018 LA belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.376 AU it takes 1.61 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 17
Orbital Period · P
1.61 yr
v(q)
40.3 km/s
v(Q)
16 km/s
TJ
4.71
Eccentricity · e
0.4319

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.782 AU) and its farthest (1.97 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.188 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.61 yr (590 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.376 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.432) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 4.3° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 40.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 16 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

Neither a measured diameter nor a reliable absolute magnitude is available for 2018 LA, so its physical size remains unconstrained.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 17 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.7169 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
1.376 AU
Eccentricity
0.4319
Perihelion
0.782 AU
Aphelion
1.970294 AU
Inclination
4.3°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458271.5
Mean Anomaly
326.73°

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
30.57

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.7169
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.

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