SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 3D

Biela

Biela follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.751 carries it from 0.879 AU at perihelion out to 6.191 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 26
Orbital Period · P
6.65 yr
v(q)
42 km/s
v(Q)
6 km/s
TJ
2.53
Eccentricity · e
0.7513

Orbit and dynamics

The path is an ellipse reaching 0.879 AU from the Sun at perihelion and 6.191 AU at aphelion, a radial span of 5.312 AU.

Applying Kepler's third law to a = 3.535 AU gives an orbital period of 6.65 yr, or about 2,428 days.

The high eccentricity (0.751) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 13.22° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 42 km/s at perihelion and falls to 6 km/s at aphelion.

Because q < 1 AU and Q > 1 AU, this orbit geometrically intersects the region of Earth's orbit.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.53, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

The current orbit solution is based on 26 observations.

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
3.535 AU
Eccentricity
0.7513
Perihelion
0.879 AU
Aphelion
6.190846 AU
Inclination
13.22°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2390520.5
Mean Anomaly
0.95°

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
—
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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