SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 VH2

2018 VH2

2018 VH2 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.931 AU it takes 2.68 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 96
Orbital Period · P
2.68 yr
v(q)
53.9 km/s
v(Q)
8.5 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.27 km
TJ
3.52
Eccentricity · e
0.7266

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.528 AU) and its farthest (3.334 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.806 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.68 yr (980 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.931 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.727) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 8.03° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 53.9 km/s at perihelion and falls to 8.5 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 = 20.6 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.27 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 96 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.382 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 6 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
1.931 AU
Eccentricity
0.7266
Perihelion
0.528 AU
Aphelion
3.334065 AU
Inclination
8.03°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
319.23°

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
2026-Nov-09 03:32 0.340980 AU
51009879 km
34.47 km/s
2029-Apr-17 20:51 0.175490 AU
26252984 km
16.77 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
20.6

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.38197
Condition
6
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.

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