Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge (1.08 km diameter)
- Will pass within 20,846,068 km of Earth in 2045
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2016 WF9 is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2016 WF9 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2016 WF9 orbits the sun every 1,760 days (4.82 years), coming as close as 0.96 AU and reaching as far as 4.75 AU from the sun. 2016 WF9 is about 1.1 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Close Approaches
2016 WF9's orbit is 0.01 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.
2016 WF9 has 3 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 30, 2045 | 20,846,068 | 13.778 |
| Jan. 31, 2149 | 8,113,589 | 14.355 |
| Feb. 10, 2173 | 19,204,777 | 15.308 |
Images and Observations
2016 WF9's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 10, 2016. It was last officially observed on April 3, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 179 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 2016 WF9:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.851 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6645
- Inclination: 15.17°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 125.17°
- Argument of Periapsis: 342.88°
- Mean Anomaly: 131.62°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 1.08200 km
- Magnitude: 20.08
- Albedo: 0.013
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,760 days (4.82 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 17.62 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.75 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.96 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2016 WF9 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 2016 WF9 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.
