SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2021 SH2

2021 SH2

2021 SH2 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.442 AU it takes 1.73 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 37
Orbital Period · P
1.73 yr
v(q)
38.1 km/s
v(Q)
16.1 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.08 km
TJ
4.52
Eccentricity · e
0.4048

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.859 AU) and its farthest (2.026 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.167 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.73 yr (632 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.442 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.405) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 18.32° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 38.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 16.1 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 = 23.2 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.08 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 37 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3233 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
1.442 AU
Eccentricity
0.4048
Perihelion
0.859 AU
Aphelion
2.025722 AU
Inclination
18.32°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
205.89°

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
2028-Oct-10 09:30 0.354798 AU
53077071 km
22.52 km/s
2034-Apr-01 09:49 0.380596 AU
56936396 km
22.84 km/s
2041-Mar-17 21:25 0.157647 AU
23583597 km
12.12 km/s
2047-Oct-25 15:51 0.096227 AU
14395369 km
13.83 km/s
2048-Apr-06 11:47 0.451055 AU
67476930 km
10.34 km/s
2054-Oct-06 12:10 0.369226 AU
55235412 km
25.24 km/s
2060-Mar-27 18:10 0.205840 AU
30793263 km
19.95 km/s
2067-Mar-18 17:46 0.153812 AU
23009982 km
10.47 km/s
2073-Oct-20 15:08 0.090312 AU
13510537 km
16.58 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
23.2

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.32333
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.

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