SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 496837

496837

496837 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 1.226 AU once every 1.36 yr.

Amor Observations: 376
Orbital Period · P
1.36 yr
v(q)
31.7 km/s
v(Q)
22.9 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.24 km
TJ
5.17
Eccentricity · e
0.1615

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.028 AU) and its farthest (1.424 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.396 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.36 yr (496 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.226 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.162 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 15.63° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 31.7 km/s at perihelion and falls to 22.9 km/s at aphelion.

Its perihelion lies just outside Earth's orbit, which is why it is classed as Earth-approaching rather than Earth-crossing.

Size and surface

The measured diameter is 0.34 km, a value from direct size determination rather than from brightness alone.

Its geometric albedo of 0.062 indicates a very dark, carbonaceous-type surface.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 376 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4764 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
1.226 AU
Eccentricity
0.1615
Perihelion
1.028 AU
Aphelion
1.423999 AU
Inclination
15.63°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
87.6°

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
0.337 km
Albedo
0.062
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
20.83

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.47645
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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