SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2024 S2

Rankin

Rankin follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.592 carries it from 2.048 AU at perihelion out to 7.994 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 154
Orbital Period · P
11.3 yr
v(q)
26.3 km/s
v(Q)
6.7 km/s
TJ
2.61
Eccentricity · e
0.5922

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.048 AU) and its farthest (7.994 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 5.946 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 11.3 yr (4,109 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 5.021 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.592) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 7.52° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 26.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 6.7 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.61, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 154 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5722 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 8 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
5.021 AU
Eccentricity
0.5922
Perihelion
2.048 AU
Aphelion
7.994436 AU
Inclination
7.52°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2460587.5
Mean Anomaly
1.53°

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
0.57216
Condition
8
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.

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