SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 266P

Christensen

Christensen follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.34 carries it from 2.333 AU at perihelion out to 4.731 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 551
Orbital Period · P
6.64 yr
v(q)
22.6 km/s
v(Q)
11.1 km/s
TJ
3.02
Eccentricity · e
0.3395

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.333 AU) and its farthest (4.731 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.398 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 6.64 yr (2,424 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 3.532 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.34 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

Its inclination of 3.43° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 22.6 km/s at perihelion and falls to 11.1 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 3.02, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 551 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.7955 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 1 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
3.532 AU
Eccentricity
0.3395
Perihelion
2.333 AU
Aphelion
4.731114 AU
Inclination
3.43°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458122.5
Mean Anomaly
235.77°

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
0.79546
Condition
1
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.

Keep exploring

Explore asteroids, comets and near-Earth objects with JPL orbital data.