SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 354P

LINEAR

LINEAR follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.125 carries it from 2.004 AU at perihelion out to 2.576 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 250
Orbital Period · P
3.47 yr
v(q)
22.3 km/s
v(Q)
17.4 km/s
TJ
3.58
Eccentricity · e
0.125

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.004 AU) and its farthest (2.576 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.572 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 3.47 yr (1,266 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.29 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.125 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 5.26° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 22.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 17.4 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 3.58, 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 250 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4956 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 3 indicates a moderately constrained orbit; predictions decades ahead still carry noticeable uncertainty.

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
2.29 AU
Eccentricity
0.125
Perihelion
2.004 AU
Aphelion
2.57625 AU
Inclination
5.26°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2456701.5
Mean Anomaly
75.96°

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
0.49564
Condition
3
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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