SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 LJ

2018 LJ

2018 LJ belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 2.369 AU it takes 3.65 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 89
Orbital Period · P
3.65 yr
v(q)
68.3 km/s
v(Q)
5.5 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.21 km
TJ
2.87
Eccentricity · e
0.8516

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.352 AU) and its farthest (4.386 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 4.034 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 3.65 yr (1,332 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.369 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.852) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 18.55° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 68.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 5.5 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 = 21.16 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.21 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 89 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3695 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 9 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
2.369 AU
Eccentricity
0.8516
Perihelion
0.352 AU
Aphelion
4.38644 AU
Inclination
18.55°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458274.5
Mean Anomaly
347.05°

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
21.16

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.36951
Condition
9
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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