SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2020 T2

Palomar

Palomar follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.993 carries it from 2.055 AU at perihelion out to 623.3 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 2,755
Orbital Period · P
5,530 yr
v(q)
29.3 km/s
v(Q)
0.1 km/s
TJ
1.59
Eccentricity · e
0.9934

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.055 AU) and its farthest (623.3 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 621.3 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 5,530 yr (2,019,678 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 312.7 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 27.87° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 29.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0.1 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 1.59, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 2,755 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.412 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
312.7 AU
Eccentricity
0.9934
Perihelion
2.055 AU
Aphelion
623.33618 AU
Inclination
27.87°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2459349.5
Mean Anomaly
359.99°

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
0.41201
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.

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