SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 RM4

2018 RM4

2018 RM4 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 2.206 AU it takes 3.28 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 34
Orbital Period · P
3.28 yr
v(q)
39.2 km/s
v(Q)
10.3 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.03 km
TJ
3.41
Eccentricity · e
0.5852

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.915 AU) and its farthest (3.497 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.582 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 3.28 yr (1,197 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.206 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.585) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 1.59° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 39.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 10.3 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 = 25.6 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.03 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 34 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3218 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
2.206 AU
Eccentricity
0.5852
Perihelion
0.915 AU
Aphelion
3.496951 AU
Inclination
1.59°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458372.5
Mean Anomaly
348.18°

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
25.6

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.32183
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.

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