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

Giacobini

Giacobini follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.575 carries it from 1.53 AU at perihelion out to 5.676 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 66
Orbital Period · P
6.84 yr
v(q)
30.2 km/s
v(Q)
8.1 km/s
TJ
2.76
Eccentricity · e
0.5753

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.53 AU) and its farthest (5.676 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 4.146 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 6.84 yr (2,498 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 3.603 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.575) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 15.41° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 30.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 8.1 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.76, 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 66 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 1.0167 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 9 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
3.603 AU
Eccentricity
0.5753
Perihelion
1.53 AU
Aphelion
5.675806 AU
Inclination
15.41°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2454735.5
Mean Anomaly
2.34°

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
1.0167
Condition
9
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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