SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 738442

738442

738442 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 2.13 AU it takes 3.11 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 262
Orbital Period · P
3.11 yr
v(q)
48.2 km/s
v(Q)
8.6 km/s
Diameter · ≈
1.28 km
TJ
3.18
Eccentricity · e
0.6964

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.647 AU) and its farthest (3.613 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.966 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 3.11 yr (1,135 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.13 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.696) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 36.42° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 48.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 8.6 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 2.73 km, a value from direct size determination rather than from brightness alone.

Its geometric albedo of 0.024 indicates a very dark, carbonaceous-type surface.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 262 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5082 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
2.13 AU
Eccentricity
0.6964
Perihelion
0.647 AU
Aphelion
3.613332 AU
Inclination
36.42°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
9.62°

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
2.73 km
Albedo
0.024
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
17.21

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.50819
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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