SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2021 VD

2021 VD

2021 VD belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.255 AU it takes 1.41 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 29
Orbital Period · P
1.41 yr
v(q)
38.2 km/s
v(Q)
18.5 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.03 km
TJ
5.06
Eccentricity · e
0.3474

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.819 AU) and its farthest (1.691 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.872 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.41 yr (514 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.255 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.347 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 7.97° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 38.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 18.5 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 = 25.75 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.03 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 29 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3875 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 7 signals a poorly constrained orbit, so its future path should be treated as provisional.

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
1.255 AU
Eccentricity
0.3474
Perihelion
0.819 AU
Aphelion
1.690987 AU
Inclination
7.97°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
56.87°

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
2029-May-01 15:14 0.334588 AU
50053653 km
6.97 km/s
2043-Apr-02 19:56 0.078023 AU
11672068 km
10.08 km/s
2074-Jan-08 15:54 0.199360 AU
29823853 km
8.08 km/s
2074-Apr-23 23:47 0.315849 AU
47250270 km
6.28 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
25.75

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.38753
Condition
7
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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