SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2022 L1

Catalina

Catalina follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.997 carries it from 1.592 AU at perihelion out to 1,098.0 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 415
Orbital Period · P
12,892 yr
v(q)
33.4 km/s
v(Q)
0 km/s
TJ
-0.85
Eccentricity · e
0.9971

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.592 AU) and its farthest (1,098.0 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1,096.4 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 12,892 yr (4,708,660 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 549.8 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.997) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 123.5° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 33.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -0.85, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

Neither a measured diameter nor a reliable absolute magnitude is available for Catalina, so its physical size remains unconstrained.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 415 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5777 arcseconds.

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
549.8 AU
Eccentricity
0.9971
Perihelion
1.592 AU
Aphelion
1098.00558 AU
Inclination
123.47°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2459821.5
Mean Anomaly
360.0°

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

No close approaches to Earth are currently on record for this object.

Physical Parameters

Diameter
— km
Albedo
—
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
—

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.57771
Condition
—
Orbit ID
—
Data source: NASA JPL Small-Body Database . 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.