SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 X2

Fitzsimmons

Fitzsimmons follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.986 carries it from 2.126 AU at perihelion out to 307.7 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 390
Orbital Period · P
1,928 yr
v(q)
28.8 km/s
v(Q)
0.2 km/s
TJ
1.69
Eccentricity · e
0.9863

Orbit and dynamics

The path is an ellipse reaching 2.126 AU from the Sun at perihelion and 307.7 AU at aphelion, a radial span of 305.6 AU.

Applying Kepler's third law to a = 154.9 AU gives an orbital period of 1,928 yr, or about 704,154 days.

The high eccentricity (0.986) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 23.07° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 28.8 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0.2 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 1.69, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

Neither a measured diameter nor a reliable absolute magnitude is available for Fitzsimmons, so its physical size remains unconstrained.

Observation record and orbit quality

The current orbit solution is based on 390 observations and has a weighted RMS residual of 0.5872 arcseconds.

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
154.9 AU
Eccentricity
0.9863
Perihelion
2.126 AU
Aphelion
307.67787 AU
Inclination
23.07°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458524.5
Mean Anomaly
359.92°

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
—

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.58716
Condition
—
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.

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