SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 AP12

2018 AP12

2018 AP12 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 2.696 AU it takes 4.43 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 58
Orbital Period · P
4.43 yr
v(q)
38.8 km/s
v(Q)
8.5 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.23 km
TJ
2.98
Eccentricity · e
0.6413

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.967 AU) and its farthest (4.425 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3.458 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 4.43 yr (1,617 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.696 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.641) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 17.36° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 38.8 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 = 20.9 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.23 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 58 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4077 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 4 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
2.696 AU
Eccentricity
0.6413
Perihelion
0.967 AU
Aphelion
4.424945 AU
Inclination
17.36°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
304.6°

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
2040-Jun-26 18:43 0.353119 AU
52825917 km
23.36 km/s
2049-Feb-18 07:19 0.423743 AU
63391030 km
20.79 km/s
2071-Feb-21 08:45 0.413422 AU
61847106 km
20.01 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
20.9

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.40766
Condition
4
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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