SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 295P

LINEAR

LINEAR follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.616 carries it from 2.053 AU at perihelion out to 8.635 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 96
Orbital Period · P
12.4 yr
v(q)
26.4 km/s
v(Q)
6.3 km/s
TJ
2.46
Eccentricity · e
0.6159

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.053 AU) and its farthest (8.635 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 6.582 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 12.4 yr (4,512 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 5.344 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.616) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 21.1° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 26.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 6.3 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.46, 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 96 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6351 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
5.344 AU
Eccentricity
0.6159
Perihelion
2.053 AU
Aphelion
8.63537 AU
Inclination
21.1°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2455806.5
Mean Anomaly
281.35°

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
0.63515
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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