SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 66008

66008

66008 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 1.426 AU it takes 1.70 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 1,950
Orbital Period · P
1.70 yr
v(q)
36.5 km/s
v(Q)
17.1 km/s
Diameter · ≈
2.31 km
TJ
4.12
Eccentricity · e
0.3628

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.909 AU) and its farthest (1.943 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.034 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1.70 yr (622 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.426 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.363 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

A steep inclination of 61.01° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 36.5 km/s at perihelion and falls to 17.1 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 1.48 km, a value from direct size determination rather than from brightness alone.

A geometric albedo of 0.319 points to a comparatively bright, reflective surface.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 1,950 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.349 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
1.426 AU
Eccentricity
0.3628
Perihelion
0.909 AU
Aphelion
1.943353 AU
Inclination
61.01°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
257.48°

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
2071-Mar-07 18:15 0.091446 AU
13680185 km
34.29 km/s

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

Physical Parameters

Diameter
1.484 km
Albedo
0.319
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
15.93

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.34899
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

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