Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
- Will pass within 22,315,705 km of Earth in 2119
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2018 MW6 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2018 MW6 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2018 MW6 orbits the sun every 2,280 days (6.24 years), coming as close as 0.77 AU and reaching as far as 6.01 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2018 MW6 is probably between 0.335 to 0.748 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building.
Close Approaches
2018 MW6's orbit is 0.01 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is relatively close to Earth's orbit.
2018 MW6 has 2 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 28, 2119 | 22,315,705 | 22.533 |
| Nov. 15, 2144 | 19,979,637 | 21.113 |
Images and Observations
2018 MW6's orbit is determined by observations dating back to June 19, 2018. It was last officially observed on Dec. 14, 2018. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 173 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 2018 MW6:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 3.39 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.7742
- Inclination: 10.26°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 240.34°
- Argument of Periapsis: 120.94°
- Mean Anomaly: 287.6°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.432 km
- Magnitude: 19.5
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 2,280 days (6.24 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 16.18 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 6.01 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.77 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2018 MW6 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 2018 MW6 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.
