2021 XW5 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2021 XW5 as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
2021 XW5 orbits the sun every 1,080 days (2.96 years), coming as close as 0.95 AU and reaching as far as 3.16 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2021 XW5 is probably between 0.009 to 0.020 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a school bus or smaller.
2021 XW5'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 XW5 has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 10, 2021 | 513,343 | 9.450 |
| Sept. 30, 2024 | 21,681,763 | 12.170 |
| Dec. 4, 2186 | 2,724,743 | 8.462 |
| Sept. 29, 2189 | 29,484,035 | 13.586 |
NASA Sentry has assessed impact risk for 2 very close approach scenarios. Here are the top scenarios ordered by probability of impact:
| Date | Probability of Impact (%) | Impact Energy (Mt) |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 13, 2119 | 0.00000 | 0.05102 |
| Dec. 12, 2112 | 0.00000 | 0.05141 |
2021 XW5's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 12, 2021. It was last officially observed on Jan. 8, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 38 observations used to determine its orbit.
The position of 2021 XW5 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.