SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 BK7

2018 BK7

2018 BK7 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.661 AU it takes 2.14 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 66
Orbital Period · P
2.14 yr
v(q)
36.9 km/s
v(Q)
14.5 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.07 km
TJ
4.14
Eccentricity · e
0.4367

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.936 AU) and its farthest (2.386 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.45 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.14 yr (782 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.661 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.437) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 5.58° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 36.9 km/s at perihelion and falls to 14.5 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 = 23.4 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.07 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 66 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4641 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
1.661 AU
Eccentricity
0.4367
Perihelion
0.936 AU
Aphelion
2.386359 AU
Inclination
5.58°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
296.2°

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
2033-Feb-25 11:15 0.053930 AU
8067790 km
10.69 km/s
2048-Feb-10 11:56 0.260000 AU
38895424 km
16.83 km/s
2050-Jun-16 17:21 0.292839 AU
43808068 km
17.08 km/s
2063-Jan-28 23:10 0.498593 AU
74588513 km
23.63 km/s
2065-May-30 01:59 0.113419 AU
16967276 km
10.67 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
23.4

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.46412
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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