SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2020 F7

Lemmon

Lemmon follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.993 carries it from 5.332 AU at perihelion out to 1,540.1 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 608
Orbital Period · P
21,479 yr
v(q)
18.2 km/s
v(Q)
0.1 km/s
TJ
-0.19
Eccentricity · e
0.9931

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (5.332 AU) and its farthest (1,540.1 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1,534.7 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 21,479 yr (7,845,246 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 772.7 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.993) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 93.95° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 18.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0.1 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -0.19, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

Neither a measured diameter nor a reliable absolute magnitude is available for Lemmon, so its physical size remains unconstrained.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 608 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5212 arcseconds.

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
772.7 AU
Eccentricity
0.9931
Perihelion
5.332 AU
Aphelion
1540.06837 AU
Inclination
93.95°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2459192.5
Mean Anomaly
359.98°

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

No close approaches to Earth are currently on record for this object.

Physical Parameters

Diameter
— km
Albedo
—
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
—

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.52119
Condition
—
Orbit ID
—
Data source: NASA JPL Small-Body Database . 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.