2020 WB3

Very small Apollo-class Asteroid

Near-Earth Potentially Hazardous
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Key Facts

Overview

2020 WB3 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2020 WB3 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.

2020 WB3 orbits the sun every 1,420 days (3.89 years), coming as close as 0.95 AU and reaching as far as 3.99 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2020 WB3 is probably between 0.232 to 0.518 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.

No Close Approaches

2020 WB3's orbit is 0.00 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is very close to Earth's orbit.

Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.

Images and Observations

2020 WB3's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Nov. 21, 2020. It was last officially observed on Feb. 5, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 75 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 2020 WB3:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 2.474 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.6145
  • Inclination: 20.51°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 5.9°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 29.1°
  • Mean Anomaly: 263.69°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: ~0.299 km
  • Magnitude: 20.3

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 1,420 days (3.89 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 18.95 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 3.99 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 0.95 AU

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

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Sky Map

The position of 2020 WB3 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 2020 WB3 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.