Comet 322P/SOHO is an object whose orbit features a relatively short period, low inclination, and is controlled by Jupiter's gravitational effects. NASA JPL has classified 322P/SOHO as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
322P/SOHO orbits the sun every 1,460 days (4.00 years), coming as close as 0.05 AU and reaching as far as 4.98 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical.
322P/SOHO's orbit is 0.09 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.
322P/SOHO has 2 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2039 | 27,977,481 | 43.119 |
| April 13, 2059 | 27,101,506 | 40.046 |
322P/SOHO's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 4, 1999. It was last officially observed on Aug. 8, 2015. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 318 observations used to determine its orbit.
The position of 322P/SOHO is indicated by a ◯ pink circle. Note that the object may not be in your current field of view. Use the controls below to adjust position, location, and time.