125475 (2001 WA15)

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Mars-crossing Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon
• Not a Near Earth Object
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

125475 (2001 WA15) is a mid-sized asteroid with an orbit that crosses the orbit of Mars. NASA JPL has not classified 2001 WA15 as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.

2001 WA15 orbits the sun every 1,180 days (3.23 years), coming as close as 1.64 AU and reaching as far as 2.72 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2001 WA15 is probably between 1.083 to 2.421 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.

No Close Approaches

2001 WA15's orbit is 0.64 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a very wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.

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

Images and Observations

2001 WA15's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Nov. 17, 2001. It was last officially observed on June 23, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 868 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 WA15:

• 149 Medusa (A875 SA)
• 244 Sita (A884 TA)
• 281 Lucretia (A888 UC)

References

• JPL Small Body Database
• Mission Design
• Sky Finder Chart

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 125475 (2001 WA15) 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 WA15 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.