SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 UA

2018 UA

2018 UA belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.39 AU it takes 1.64 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 29
Orbital Period · P
1.64 yr
v(q)
40.9 km/s
v(Q)
15.6 km/s
TJ
4.67
Eccentricity · e
0.4475

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.768 AU) and its farthest (2.012 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.244 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.64 yr (599 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.39 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.448) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 2.64° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 40.9 km/s at perihelion and falls to 15.6 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 UA, so its physical size remains unconstrained.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 29 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3701 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 7 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
1.39 AU
Eccentricity
0.4475
Perihelion
0.768 AU
Aphelion
2.012025 AU
Inclination
2.64°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
206.39°

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

Predicted close approaches to Earth, from NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).

Date (UTC)Miss distanceVelocity
2027-Apr-10 16:52 0.266777 AU
39909257 km
24.97 km/s
2063-Apr-10 17:41 0.396377 AU
59297201 km
24.77 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
30.2

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.37013
Condition
7
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.