SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2024 SA4

2024 SA4

2024 SA4 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.825 AU it takes 2.47 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 48
Orbital Period · P
2.47 yr
v(q)
38.6 km/s
v(Q)
12.6 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.35 km
TJ
3.56
Eccentricity · e
0.5088

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.897 AU) and its farthest (2.754 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.857 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.47 yr (901 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.825 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.509) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 46.02° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 38.6 km/s at perihelion and falls to 12.6 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 = 20.06 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.35 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 48 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4801 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 3 indicates a moderately constrained orbit; predictions decades ahead still carry noticeable uncertainty.

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
1.825 AU
Eccentricity
0.5088
Perihelion
0.897 AU
Aphelion
2.75356 AU
Inclination
46.02°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
189.15°

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
2030-Mar-24 15:02 0.155577 AU
23273917 km
25.95 km/s
2067-Mar-24 12:56 0.158503 AU
23711723 km
25.83 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
20.06

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.48007
Condition
3
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.

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