SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 23P

Brorsen-Metcalf

Brorsen-Metcalf follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.972 carries it from 0.479 AU at perihelion out to 33.662 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 223
Orbital Period · P
70.5 yr
v(q)
60.4 km/s
v(Q)
0.9 km/s
TJ
1.11
Eccentricity · e
0.972

Orbit and dynamics

The path is an ellipse reaching 0.479 AU from the Sun at perihelion and 33.662 AU at aphelion, a radial span of 33.183 AU.

Applying Kepler's third law to a = 17.07 AU gives an orbital period of 70.5 yr, or about 25,760 days.

The high eccentricity (0.972) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 19.33° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 60.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0.9 km/s at aphelion.

Because q < 1 AU and Q > 1 AU, this orbit geometrically intersects the region of Earth's orbit.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 1.11, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

The current orbit solution is based on 223 observations and has a weighted RMS residual of 1.2347 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
17.07 AU
Eccentricity
0.972
Perihelion
0.479 AU
Aphelion
33.66204 AU
Inclination
19.33°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2447800.5
Mean Anomaly
0.27°

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
1.2347
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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