SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2021 VT3

2021 VT3

2021 VT3 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.126 AU it takes 1.19 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 62
Orbital Period · P
1.19 yr
v(q)
31.6 km/s
v(Q)
24.9 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.03 km
TJ
5.49
Eccentricity · e
0.1183

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.992 AU) and its farthest (1.259 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.267 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.19 yr (436 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.126 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.118 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 19.14° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 31.6 km/s at perihelion and falls to 24.9 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 = 25.32 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.03 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 62 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4359 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
1.126 AU
Eccentricity
0.1183
Perihelion
0.992 AU
Aphelion
1.259206 AU
Inclination
19.14°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
276.15°

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
2027-Nov-01 17:36 0.119417 AU
17864515 km
11.98 km/s
2028-Apr-18 15:28 0.225560 AU
33743309 km
10.12 km/s
2033-Oct-23 20:38 0.262669 AU
39294751 km
15.71 km/s
2034-May-02 04:07 0.222074 AU
33221865 km
10.00 km/s
2046-Nov-23 14:27 0.269937 AU
40382072 km
15.81 km/s
2052-Nov-17 07:52 0.038343 AU
5736051 km
12.04 km/s
2058-Nov-11 02:00 0.002218 AU
331823 km
10.26 km/s
2064-Nov-04 07:07 0.052156 AU
7802406 km
10.97 km/s
2070-Oct-28 00:27 0.196640 AU
29416926 km
13.87 km/s
2071-Apr-26 16:21 0.220289 AU
32954724 km
10.03 km/s
2076-Oct-18 22:52 0.419658 AU
62780005 km
18.10 km/s
2077-May-09 03:27 0.238380 AU
35661090 km
10.00 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
25.32

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.43594
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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