SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 237P

LINEAR

LINEAR follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.434 carries it from 1.987 AU at perihelion out to 5.038 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 2,268
Orbital Period · P
6.58 yr
v(q)
25.3 km/s
v(Q)
10 km/s
TJ
2.92
Eccentricity · e
0.4344

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.987 AU) and its farthest (5.038 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3.051 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 6.58 yr (2,404 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 3.512 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.434) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 14.01° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 25.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 10 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.92, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 2,268 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6721 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 0 means the orbit is very well determined, leaving only a small uncertainty in the future ephemeris.

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
3.512 AU
Eccentricity
0.4344
Perihelion
1.987 AU
Aphelion
5.037613 AU
Inclination
14.01°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2459557.5
Mean Anomaly
281.9°

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
0.67206
Condition
0
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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