SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2021 RT

2021 RT

2021 RT is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 1.689 AU once every 2.20 yr.

Amor Observations: 34
Orbital Period · P
2.20 yr
v(q)
32.5 km/s
v(Q)
16.2 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.08 km
TJ
4.1
Eccentricity · e
0.3354

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.122 AU) and its farthest (2.255 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.133 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.20 yr (802 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.689 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.335 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 18.9° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 32.5 km/s at perihelion and falls to 16.2 km/s at aphelion.

Its perihelion lies just outside Earth's orbit, which is why it is classed as Earth-approaching rather than Earth-crossing.

Size and surface

No direct size measurement is available; from an absolute magnitude of H = 23.15 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.08 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 34 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4395 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
1.689 AU
Eccentricity
0.3354
Perihelion
1.122 AU
Aphelion
2.255491 AU
Inclination
18.9°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
63.64°

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
2032-Sep-11 14:30 0.255720 AU
38255107 km
11.02 km/s
2043-Sep-11 02:46 0.384497 AU
57519933 km
12.62 km/s
2067-Sep-30 02:09 0.400357 AU
59892576 km
17.87 km/s
2078-Sep-24 23:25 0.227461 AU
34027728 km
14.59 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
23.15

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.43952
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.