SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 VD8

2018 VD8

2018 VD8 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 1.785 AU once every 2.38 yr.

Amor Observations: 33
Orbital Period · P
2.38 yr
v(q)
30.3 km/s
v(Q)
16.4 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.19 km
TJ
4.02
Eccentricity · e
0.2971

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.255 AU) and its farthest (2.315 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.06 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.38 yr (871 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.785 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.297 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 7.48° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 30.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 16.4 km/s at aphelion.

Its perihelion lies just outside Earth's orbit, which is why it is classed as Earth-approaching rather than Earth-crossing.

Size and surface

No direct size measurement is available; from an absolute magnitude of H = 21.4 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.19 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 33 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3517 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 5 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
1.785 AU
Eccentricity
0.2971
Perihelion
1.255 AU
Aphelion
2.315323 AU
Inclination
7.48°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
103.54°

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
2037-Sep-12 08:40 0.293093 AU
43846099 km
0.85 km/s
2056-Jul-27 12:05 0.371456 AU
55568985 km
3.28 km/s
2068-Sep-16 08:56 0.290491 AU
43456854 km
0.63 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
21.4

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.35166
Condition
5
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

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