SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 284P

McNaught

McNaught follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.376 carries it from 2.293 AU at perihelion out to 5.053 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 1,370
Orbital Period · P
7.04 yr
v(q)
23.1 km/s
v(Q)
10.5 km/s
TJ
2.94
Eccentricity · e
0.3757

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.293 AU) and its farthest (5.053 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.76 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 7.04 yr (2,571 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 3.673 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.376 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 11.86° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 23.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 10.5 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.94, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 1,370 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5349 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
3.673 AU
Eccentricity
0.3757
Perihelion
2.293 AU
Aphelion
5.052946 AU
Inclination
11.86°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458321.5
Mean Anomaly
198.92°

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
0.53487
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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