SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 TM6

2018 TM6

2018 TM6 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.952 AU it takes 2.73 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 46
Orbital Period · P
2.73 yr
v(q)
41.2 km/s
v(Q)
11 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.14 km
TJ
3.65
Eccentricity · e
0.5775

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.825 AU) and its farthest (3.079 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.254 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.73 yr (996 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.952 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.578) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 9.71° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 41.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 11 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 = 22.05 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.14 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 46 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5389 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
1.952 AU
Eccentricity
0.5775
Perihelion
0.825 AU
Aphelion
3.07928 AU
Inclination
9.71°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
312.59°

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
2029-May-28 01:33 0.011535 AU
1725557 km
15.84 km/s
2037-Oct-24 07:55 0.315546 AU
47205074 km
23.90 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
22.05

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.53888
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.

Keep exploring

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