2008 WK61

Very small Apollo-class Asteroid

Near-Earth Potentially Hazardous
Space Reference » Apollo-class Asteroids » 2008 WK61

Key Facts

Overview

2008 WK61 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2008 WK61 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.

2008 WK61 orbits the sun every 780 days (2.14 years), coming as close as 0.96 AU and reaching as far as 2.35 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2008 WK61 is probably between 0.173 to 0.387 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.

No Close Approaches

2008 WK61's orbit is 0.02 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

2008 WK61's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Nov. 21, 2008. It was last officially observed on Dec. 7, 2008. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 52 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 2008 WK61:

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2454798.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 1.659 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.4195
  • Inclination: 17.15°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 253.5°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 212.48°
  • Mean Anomaly: 346.33°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: ~0.224 km
  • Magnitude: 20.93

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 780 days (2.14 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 23.14 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 2.35 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 0.96 AU

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

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Sky Map

The position of 2008 WK61 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 2008 WK61 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.