SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 468P

Siding Spring

Siding Spring follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.445 carries it from 3.968 AU at perihelion out to 10.326 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 159
Orbital Period · P
19.1 yr
v(q)
18 km/s
v(Q)
6.9 km/s
TJ
2.07
Eccentricity · e
0.4448

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.968 AU) and its farthest (10.326 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 6.358 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 19.1 yr (6,979 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 7.147 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.445) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 50.36° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 18 km/s at perihelion and falls to 6.9 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.07, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

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

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 159 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4959 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 1 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
7.147 AU
Eccentricity
0.4448
Perihelion
3.968 AU
Aphelion
10.325986 AU
Inclination
50.36°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2457914.5
Mean Anomaly
238.4°

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
0.49594
Condition
1
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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