SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 QA

2018 QA

2018 QA belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 2.054 AU it takes 2.94 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 19
Orbital Period · P
2.94 yr
v(q)
51.5 km/s
v(Q)
8.4 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.07 km
TJ
3.4
Eccentricity · e
0.7196

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.576 AU) and its farthest (3.532 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.956 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.94 yr (1,075 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.054 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.72) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 8.56° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 51.5 km/s at perihelion and falls to 8.4 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 = 23.44 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.07 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 19 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5831 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
2.054 AU
Eccentricity
0.7196
Perihelion
0.576 AU
Aphelion
3.532058 AU
Inclination
8.56°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458345.5
Mean Anomaly
337.39°

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
23.44

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.58306
Condition
8
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.