Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a school bus or smaller
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2000 WH10 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2000 WH10 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2000 WH10 orbits the sun every 1,460 days (4.00 years), coming as close as 0.85 AU and reaching as far as 4.19 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2000 WH10 is probably between 0.087 to 0.195 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a school bus or smaller.
The rotation of 2000 WH10 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 0.02 hours.
No Close Approaches
2000 WH10's orbit is 0.05 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.
Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.
Images and Observations
2000 WH10's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Nov. 19, 2000. It was last officially observed on Nov. 23, 2000. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 23 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 2000 WH10:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2451869.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.523 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6616
- Inclination: 13.27°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 50.35°
- Argument of Periapsis: 63.26°
- Mean Anomaly: 350.12°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.113 km
- Magnitude: 22.42
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,460 days (4.00 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 18.80 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.19 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.85 AU
- Rotation Period: 0.02 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2000 WH10 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 below comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 2000 WH10 to create an approximate landscape rendering with New York City in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.
