SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 71P

Clark

Clark follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.494 carries it from 1.587 AU at perihelion out to 4.691 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 1,360
Orbital Period · P
5.56 yr
v(q)
28.9 km/s
v(Q)
9.8 km/s
TJ
2.99
Eccentricity · e
0.4945

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.587 AU) and its farthest (4.691 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3.104 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 5.56 yr (2,031 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 3.139 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.494) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 9.44° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 28.9 km/s at perihelion and falls to 9.8 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.99, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

The measured diameter is 1.36 km, a value from direct size determination rather than from brightness alone.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 1,360 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6664 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
3.139 AU
Eccentricity
0.4945
Perihelion
1.587 AU
Aphelion
4.691235 AU
Inclination
9.44°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458635.5
Mean Anomaly
124.18°

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
1.36 km
Albedo
—
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
—

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.66638
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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