SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 205P-A

Giacobini

Giacobini follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.569 carries it from 1.526 AU at perihelion out to 5.552 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 1,143
Orbital Period · P
6.66 yr
v(q)
30.2 km/s
v(Q)
8.3 km/s
TJ
2.78
Eccentricity · e
0.5687

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.526 AU) and its farthest (5.552 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 4.026 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 6.66 yr (2,432 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 3.539 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.569) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 15.3° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 30.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 8.3 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.78, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 1,143 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.8122 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 4 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
3.539 AU
Eccentricity
0.5687
Perihelion
1.526 AU
Aphelion
5.551629 AU
Inclination
15.3°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2454766.5
Mean Anomaly
6.95°

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
0.81221
Condition
4
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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