SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2020 FA3

2020 FA3

2020 FA3 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 1.823 AU once every 2.46 yr.

Amor Observations: 147
Orbital Period · P
2.46 yr
v(q)
34.4 km/s
v(Q)
14.1 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.07 km
TJ
3.93
Eccentricity · e
0.4181

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.061 AU) and its farthest (2.585 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.524 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.46 yr (899 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.823 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.418) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 3.14° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 34.4 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 = 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 147 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6356 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 4 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
1.823 AU
Eccentricity
0.4181
Perihelion
1.061 AU
Aphelion
2.585196 AU
Inclination
3.14°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
180.5°

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
2047-Jun-01 08:22 0.442140 AU
66143242 km
17.53 km/s
2052-Mar-31 13:42 0.073089 AU
10933945 km
5.45 km/s
2079-May-04 11:12 0.093465 AU
13982097 km
7.03 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
0.63564
Condition
4
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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