Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
- Will pass within 19,755,888 km of Earth in 2022
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2021 WC8 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2021 WC8 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2021 WC8 orbits the sun every 1,540 days (4.22 years), coming as close as 0.78 AU and reaching as far as 4.45 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2021 WC8 is probably between 0.290 to 0.649 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
2021 WC8's orbit is 0.00 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is relatively close to Earth's orbit.
2021 WC8 has 5 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 19, 2022 | 19,755,888 | 16.526 |
| Feb. 7, 2098 | 4,167,990 | 18.946 |
| Feb. 14, 2136 | 18,728,527 | 16.769 |
| June 26, 2157 | 28,635,026 | 19.598 |
| Jan. 29, 2191 | 13,348,347 | 22.069 |
Images and Observations
2021 WC8's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Nov. 26, 2000. It was last officially observed on July 26, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 231 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 2021 WC8:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.614 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.7018
- Inclination: 17.75°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 318.72°
- Argument of Periapsis: 241.05°
- Mean Anomaly: 125.04°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.375 km
- Magnitude: 19.81
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,540 days (4.22 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 18.47 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.45 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.78 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2021 WC8 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 2021 WC8 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.
