Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon
- Will pass within 16,597,480 km of Earth in 2022
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
422787 (2001 WS1) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2001 WS1 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2001 WS1 orbits the sun every 1,520 days (4.16 years), coming as close as 0.99 AU and reaching as far as 4.19 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2001 WS1 is probably between 1.044 to 2.334 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.
Close Approaches
2001 WS1'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.
2001 WS1 has 5 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 17, 2022 | 16,597,480 | 12.439 |
| Sept. 28, 2043 | 4,269,594 | 10.744 |
| Sept. 2, 2081 | 17,401,392 | 12.919 |
| Sept. 17, 2102 | 6,796,304 | 11.226 |
| Oct. 23, 2123 | 23,408,330 | 12.456 |
Images and Observations
2001 WS1's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 2, 1997. It was last officially observed on Feb. 17, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,341 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 2001 WS1:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.591 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6187
- Inclination: 13.25°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 1.29°
- Argument of Periapsis: 5.22°
- Mean Anomaly: 80.51°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~1.347 km
- Magnitude: 17.03
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,520 days (4.16 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 18.54 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.19 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.99 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 422787 (2001 WS1) 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 2001 WS1 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.
