SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 RL

2018 RL

2018 RL is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 1.859 AU once every 2.53 yr.

Amor Observations: 296
Orbital Period · P
2.53 yr
v(q)
33.8 km/s
v(Q)
14.1 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.38 km
TJ
3.83
Eccentricity · e
0.4108

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.095 AU) and its farthest (2.623 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.528 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.53 yr (926 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.859 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.411) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 18.84° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 33.8 km/s at perihelion and falls to 14.1 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 = 19.86 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.38 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 296 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3823 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 0 means the orbit is very well determined, leaving only a small uncertainty in the future ephemeris.

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
1.859 AU
Eccentricity
0.4108
Perihelion
1.095 AU
Aphelion
2.622677 AU
Inclination
18.84°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
5.11°

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
2051-Oct-25 08:25 0.318834 AU
47696958 km
11.25 km/s
2056-Nov-06 21:35 0.198786 AU
29737888 km
13.29 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
19.86

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.38228
Condition
0
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.