SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2020 ME63

2020 ME63

2020 ME63 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 2.21 AU it takes 3.29 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 6
Orbital Period · P
3.29 yr
v(q)
37.1 km/s
v(Q)
10.8 km/s
TJ
3.44
Eccentricity · e
0.5486

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.997 AU) and its farthest (3.422 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.425 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 3.29 yr (1,200 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.21 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.549) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 2.55° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 37.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 10.8 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

Neither a measured diameter nor a reliable absolute magnitude is available for 2020 ME63, so its physical size remains unconstrained.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 6 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.0739 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 7 signals a poorly constrained orbit, so its future path should be treated as provisional.

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
2.21 AU
Eccentricity
0.5486
Perihelion
0.997 AU
Aphelion
3.422406 AU
Inclination
2.55°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
300.16°

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
2056-Aug-04 03:00 0.400945 AU
59980567 km
21.39 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
31.91

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.073899
Condition
7
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.