SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 VF1

2018 VF1

2018 VF1 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 1.871 AU once every 2.56 yr.

Amor Observations: 48
Orbital Period · P
2.56 yr
v(q)
35.2 km/s
v(Q)
13.5 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.11 km
TJ
3.84
Eccentricity · e
0.4466

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.035 AU) and its farthest (2.707 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.672 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.56 yr (935 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.871 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.447) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 9.49° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 35.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 13.5 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 = 22.47 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.11 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 48 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.503 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
1.871 AU
Eccentricity
0.4466
Perihelion
1.035 AU
Aphelion
2.706589 AU
Inclination
9.49°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
325.5°

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
2036-Nov-04 14:29 0.406174 AU
60762827 km
17.27 km/s
2041-Nov-04 10:47 0.422506 AU
63205973 km
3.90 km/s
2042-Feb-08 05:30 0.329057 AU
49226286 km
14.97 km/s
2059-Nov-17 09:17 0.226026 AU
33812990 km
11.23 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
22.47

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.50303
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

Explore asteroids, comets and near-Earth objects with JPL orbital data.