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

Giacobini

Giacobini follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.569 carries it from 1.527 AU at perihelion out to 5.553 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 66
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 (1.527 AU) and its farthest (5.553 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 4.026 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 6.66 yr (2,433 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 3.54 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 15.31° 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 66 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.9922 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
3.54 AU
Eccentricity
0.5687
Perihelion
1.527 AU
Aphelion
5.553198 AU
Inclination
15.31°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2454679.5
Mean Anomaly
354.04°

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
0.99216
Condition
3
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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