Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 24,110,398 km of Earth in 2027
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
136839 (1997 WT22) is a small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 1997 WT22 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.
1997 WT22 orbits the sun every 661 days (1.81 years), coming as close as 1.03 AU and reaching as far as 1.94 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1997 WT22 is probably between 0.456 to 1.019 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Close Approaches
1997 WT22's orbit is 0.13 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.
1997 WT22 has 7 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 26, 2027 | 24,110,398 | 3.804 |
| March 7, 2027 | 24,071,613 | 4.614 |
| Jan. 17, 2056 | 20,414,652 | 6.371 |
| March 14, 2094 | 24,579,360 | 5.235 |
| Jan. 18, 2123 | 20,360,898 | 6.210 |
| March 18, 2161 | 24,836,132 | 5.522 |
| Jan. 20, 2190 | 20,098,725 | 5.738 |
Images and Observations
1997 WT22's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 13, 1988. It was last officially observed on Oct. 16, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 517 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
This asteroid is not considered a viable target for human exploration by the NHATS study.Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 1997 WT22:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.485 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.3058
- Inclination: 8.16°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 71.9°
- Argument of Periapsis: 74.86°
- Mean Anomaly: 36.17°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.588 km
- Magnitude: 18.83
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 661 days (1.81 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 24.44 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.94 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.03 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 136839 (1997 WT22) 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.
Size Rendering
The above comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 1997 WT22 to create an approximate landscape rendering with Mount Everest in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.
