SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 VC4

2018 VC4

2018 VC4 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 2.32 AU it takes 3.53 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 30
Orbital Period · P
3.53 yr
v(q)
43.6 km/s
v(Q)
8.8 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.28 km
TJ
3.23
Eccentricity · e
0.665

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.777 AU) and its farthest (3.863 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3.086 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 3.53 yr (1,291 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.32 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.665) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 7.17° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 43.6 km/s at perihelion and falls to 8.8 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 = 20.5 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.28 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 30 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.8428 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
2.32 AU
Eccentricity
0.665
Perihelion
0.777 AU
Aphelion
3.8628 AU
Inclination
7.17°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
82.12°

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
20.5

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.84278
Condition
7
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.