SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2020 X2

ATLAS

ATLAS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.766 carries it from 3.829 AU at perihelion out to 28.93 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 253
Orbital Period · P
66.3 yr
v(q)
20.2 km/s
v(Q)
2.7 km/s
TJ
2.48
Eccentricity · e
0.7662

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.829 AU) and its farthest (28.93 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 25.101 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 66.3 yr (24,214 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 16.38 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.766) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 18.19° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 20.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 2.7 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.48, 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 253 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4098 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 3 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
16.38 AU
Eccentricity
0.7662
Perihelion
3.829 AU
Aphelion
28.930356 AU
Inclination
18.19°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2459202.5
Mean Anomaly
0.49°

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
0.40985
Condition
3
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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