SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 37P

Forbes

Forbes follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.534 carries it from 1.611 AU at perihelion out to 5.305 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 1,737
Orbital Period · P
6.43 yr
v(q)
29.1 km/s
v(Q)
8.8 km/s
TJ
2.87
Eccentricity · e
0.5342

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.611 AU) and its farthest (5.305 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3.694 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 6.43 yr (2,349 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 3.458 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.534) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 8.96° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 29.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 8.8 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.87, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

The measured diameter is 1.92 km, a value from direct size determination rather than from brightness alone.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 1,737 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5994 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
3.458 AU
Eccentricity
0.5342
Perihelion
1.611 AU
Aphelion
5.305264 AU
Inclination
8.96°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458673.5
Mean Anomaly
66.04°

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
1.92 km
Albedo
—
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
—

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.59939
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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