SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2020 DT3

2020 DT3

2020 DT3 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 2.252 AU it takes 3.38 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 345
Orbital Period · P
3.38 yr
v(q)
40.1 km/s
v(Q)
9.8 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.2 km
TJ
3.36
Eccentricity · e
0.6061

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.887 AU) and its farthest (3.617 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.73 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 3.38 yr (1,234 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.252 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.606) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 3.26° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 40.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 9.8 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 = 21.21 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.2 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 345 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3237 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 3 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
2.252 AU
Eccentricity
0.6061
Perihelion
0.887 AU
Aphelion
3.616937 AU
Inclination
3.26°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
290.47°

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
2030-Jul-31 19:02 0.339002 AU
50713940 km
22.64 km/s
2047-Mar-25 05:25 0.046474 AU
6952442 km
14.41 km/s
2057-Jul-14 12:31 0.090458 AU
13532359 km
14.92 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
21.21

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.32372
Condition
3
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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