SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2020 HE2

2020 HE2

2020 HE2 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.539 AU it takes 1.91 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 80
Orbital Period · P
1.91 yr
v(q)
40.4 km/s
v(Q)
14.3 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.19 km
TJ
4.31
Eccentricity · e
0.4786

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.802 AU) and its farthest (2.276 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.474 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.91 yr (697 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.539 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.479) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 12.61° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 40.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 14.3 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 = 21.4 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.19 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 80 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5142 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
1.539 AU
Eccentricity
0.4786
Perihelion
0.802 AU
Aphelion
2.275565 AU
Inclination
12.61°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
26.83°

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
2039-Oct-12 01:03 0.102374 AU
15314913 km
16.23 km/s
2041-Jul-17 07:06 0.267714 AU
40049421 km
11.85 km/s
2043-May-03 19:01 0.333696 AU
49920265 km
21.29 km/s
2060-Oct-14 23:59 0.140755 AU
21056666 km
17.59 km/s
2062-Jul-28 19:51 0.261415 AU
39107102 km
12.30 km/s
2064-May-06 05:22 0.286620 AU
42877722 km
19.54 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
21.4

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.51425
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

Explore asteroids, comets and near-Earth objects with JPL orbital data.