SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 RQ2

2018 RQ2

2018 RQ2 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.525 AU it takes 1.88 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 140
Orbital Period · P
1.88 yr
v(q)
37.2 km/s
v(Q)
15.7 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.09 km
TJ
4.34
Eccentricity · e
0.4074

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.904 AU) and its farthest (2.146 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.242 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.88 yr (688 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.525 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.407) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 20.13° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 37.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 15.7 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 = 22.9 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.09 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 140 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3316 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 3 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
1.525 AU
Eccentricity
0.4074
Perihelion
0.904 AU
Aphelion
2.146285 AU
Inclination
20.13°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
16.26°

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
2034-Jan-15 09:25 0.334438 AU
50031192 km
11.51 km/s
2035-Aug-28 04:45 0.337798 AU
50533813 km
21.39 km/s
2050-Sep-22 10:00 0.072143 AU
10792425 km
12.86 km/s
2051-Feb-02 03:56 0.435180 AU
65101987 km
10.24 km/s
2066-Jan-19 15:57 0.373168 AU
55825068 km
15.65 km/s
2067-Sep-06 10:33 0.173028 AU
25884665 km
17.46 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
22.9

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.33164
Condition
3
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.