SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2021 CF3

2021 CF3

2021 CF3 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.828 AU it takes 2.47 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 40
Orbital Period · P
2.47 yr
v(q)
39 km/s
v(Q)
12.4 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.05 km
TJ
3.84
Eccentricity · e
0.5164

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.884 AU) and its farthest (2.772 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.888 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.47 yr (903 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.828 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.516) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 11.25° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 39 km/s at perihelion and falls to 12.4 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 = 24.27 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.05 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 40 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4486 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 0 means the orbit is very well determined, leaving only a small uncertainty in the future ephemeris.

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
1.828 AU
Eccentricity
0.5164
Perihelion
0.884 AU
Aphelion
2.771979 AU
Inclination
11.25°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
78.25°

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
2063-Jan-30 13:13 0.089890 AU
13447292 km
14.50 km/s
2067-Dec-05 19:09 0.196100 AU
29336096 km
9.40 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
24.27

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.44864
Condition
0
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

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