SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2020 P3

ATLAS

ATLAS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.999 carries it from 6.812 AU at perihelion out to 15,911 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 698
Orbital Period · P
710,048 yr
v(q)
16.1 km/s
v(Q)
0 km/s
TJ
1.56
Eccentricity · e
0.9991

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (6.812 AU) and its farthest (15,911 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 15,904 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 710,048 yr (259,345,061 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 7,959.0 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.999) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 61.88° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 16.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 1.56, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 698 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5035 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
7959.0 AU
Eccentricity
0.9991
Perihelion
6.812 AU
Aphelion
15910.8369 AU
Inclination
61.88°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2459409.5
Mean Anomaly
0.0°

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
0.50351
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.

Keep exploring

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