Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field (0.30 km diameter)
- Will pass within 8,669,645 km of Earth in 2093
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2014 WZ120 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2014 WZ120 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2014 WZ120 orbits the sun every 1,200 days (3.29 years), coming as close as 0.80 AU and reaching as far as 3.63 AU from the sun. 2014 WZ120 is about 0.3 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, comparable in size to a football field.
The rotation of 2014 WZ120 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 3.36 hours.
Close Approaches
2014 WZ120's orbit is 0.03 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.
2014 WZ120 has 2 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 2, 2093 | 8,669,645 | 17.797 |
| Nov. 28, 2149 | 7,358,279 | 19.531 |
Images and Observations
2014 WZ120's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Nov. 21, 2014. It was last officially observed on May 29, 2015. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 346 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 2014 WZ120:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.211 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6399
- Inclination: 20.91°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 244.78°
- Argument of Periapsis: 245.24°
- Mean Anomaly: 227.87°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 0.29700 km
- Magnitude: 20.5
- Albedo: 0.126
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,200 days (3.29 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.04 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.63 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.80 AU
- Rotation Period: 3.36 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2014 WZ120 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 2014 WZ120 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.
