SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 251P

LINEAR

LINEAR follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.51 carries it from 1.712 AU at perihelion out to 5.272 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 431
Orbital Period · P
6.53 yr
v(q)
28 km/s
v(Q)
9.1 km/s
TJ
2.78
Eccentricity · e
0.5098

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.712 AU) and its farthest (5.272 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3.56 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 6.53 yr (2,383 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 3.492 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.51) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 23.51° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 28 km/s at perihelion and falls to 9.1 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 LINEAR, so its physical size remains unconstrained.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 431 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.7594 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
3.492 AU
Eccentricity
0.5098
Perihelion
1.712 AU
Aphelion
5.272222 AU
Inclination
23.51°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2454201.5
Mean Anomaly
154.96°

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
0.75942
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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