SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 520808

520808

520808 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.613 AU it takes 2.05 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 236
Orbital Period · P
2.05 yr
v(q)
36.6 km/s
v(Q)
15 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.35 km
TJ
3.84
Eccentricity · e
0.418

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.939 AU) and its farthest (2.287 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.348 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.05 yr (748 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.613 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.418) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 52.67° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 36.6 km/s at perihelion and falls to 15 km/s at aphelion.

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

Size and surface

The measured diameter is 0.7 km, a value from direct size determination rather than from brightness alone.

Its geometric albedo of 0.032 indicates a very dark, carbonaceous-type surface.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 236 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5651 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
1.613 AU
Eccentricity
0.418
Perihelion
0.939 AU
Aphelion
2.287234 AU
Inclination
52.67°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
277.15°

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

Predicted close approaches to Earth, from NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).

Date (UTC)Miss distanceVelocity
2055-Oct-18 14:44 0.494422 AU
73964495 km
26.19 km/s
2057-May-09 22:46 0.487333 AU
72904029 km
25.84 km/s
2057-Oct-24 01:30 0.234890 AU
35139011 km
27.12 km/s
2059-Nov-01 14:23 0.162261 AU
24273851 km
29.82 km/s
2061-Nov-10 13:16 0.397924 AU
59528543 km
34.13 km/s

Distances in astronomical units (AU) and kilometres. Source: NASA/JPL CNEOS Close Approach Data API.

Physical Parameters

Diameter
0.704 km
Albedo
0.032
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
20.01

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.56508
Condition
0
Orbit ID
—
Data source: NASA JPL Small-Body Database · NASA CNEOS. 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.