SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 367P

Catalina

Catalina follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.28 carries it from 2.528 AU at perihelion out to 4.494 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 129
Orbital Period · P
6.58 yr
v(q)
21.2 km/s
v(Q)
11.9 km/s
TJ
3.04
Eccentricity · e
0.2799

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.528 AU) and its farthest (4.494 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.966 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 6.58 yr (2,403 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 3.511 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.28 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 8.46° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 21.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 11.9 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 3.04, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 129 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5718 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 2 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
3.511 AU
Eccentricity
0.2799
Perihelion
2.528 AU
Aphelion
4.493729 AU
Inclination
8.46°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2456029.5
Mean Anomaly
20.1°

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
0.57176
Condition
2
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.