SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2023 MA6

2023 MA6

2023 MA6 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.204 AU it takes 1.32 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 20
Orbital Period · P
1.32 yr
v(q)
35.7 km/s
v(Q)
20.6 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.05 km
TJ
5.24
Eccentricity · e
0.2672

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.882 AU) and its farthest (1.526 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.644 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.32 yr (483 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.204 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.267 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 6.94° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 35.7 km/s at perihelion and falls to 20.6 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 = 24.12 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.05 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 20 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4131 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
1.204 AU
Eccentricity
0.2672
Perihelion
0.882 AU
Aphelion
1.525709 AU
Inclination
6.94°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
142.9°

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-Jul-25 04:39 0.283638 AU
42431567 km
6.01 km/s
2031-Jan-21 00:14 0.020185 AU
3019582 km
11.67 km/s
2035-Jan-09 02:28 0.215203 AU
32193842 km
18.89 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
24.12

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.41313
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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