SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2020 KP

2020 KP

2020 KP belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.836 AU it takes 2.49 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 13
Orbital Period · P
2.49 yr
v(q)
40.2 km/s
v(Q)
12 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.01 km
TJ
3.83
Eccentricity · e
0.5401

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.844 AU) and its farthest (2.828 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.984 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.49 yr (909 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.836 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.54) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 3.59° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 40.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 12 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 = 27.9 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.01 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 13 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.526 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 8 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
1.836 AU
Eccentricity
0.5401
Perihelion
0.844 AU
Aphelion
2.827624 AU
Inclination
3.59°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458986.5
Mean Anomaly
341.37°

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
2069-Sep-29 14:20 0.059551 AU
8908699 km
15.94 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
27.9

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.52598
Condition
8
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.