SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2020 UE

2020 UE

2020 UE belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.343 AU it takes 1.56 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 141
Orbital Period · P
1.56 yr
v(q)
43.3 km/s
v(Q)
15.3 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.03 km
TJ
4.77
Eccentricity · e
0.4789

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.7 AU) and its farthest (1.986 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.286 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.56 yr (568 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.343 AU.

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

Its inclination of 3.37° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 43.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 15.3 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 = 25.54 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.03 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 141 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.2372 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 6 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
1.343 AU
Eccentricity
0.4789
Perihelion
0.7 AU
Aphelion
1.986163 AU
Inclination
3.37°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
261.06°

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
2028-Apr-09 10:00 0.197815 AU
29592762 km
20.72 km/s
2031-Apr-03 07:48 0.474680 AU
71011087 km
7.98 km/s
2031-Jul-04 04:36 0.311085 AU
46537682 km
13.61 km/s
2034-Oct-15 14:37 0.000442 AU
66159 km
14.39 km/s
2059-Apr-08 01:07 0.106597 AU
15946683 km
21.79 km/s
2062-Jun-20 13:28 0.274117 AU
41007302 km
12.74 km/s
2065-Oct-03 04:49 0.097194 AU
14540045 km
10.38 km/s
2068-Nov-08 03:48 0.359823 AU
53828772 km
29.12 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
25.54

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.23725
Condition
6
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.