Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the island of Manhattan (3.95 km diameter)
- Will pass within 28,152,696 km of Earth in 2159
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
162741 (2000 WG6) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2000 WG6 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.
2000 WG6 orbits the sun every 1,290 days (3.53 years), coming as close as 1.16 AU and reaching as far as 3.48 AU from the sun. 2000 WG6 is about 3.9 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the island of Manhattan.
Close Approaches
2000 WG6's orbit is 0.19 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.
2000 WG6 has 1 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 6, 2159 | 28,152,696 | 7.617 |
Images and Observations
2000 WG6's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 8, 1993. It was last officially observed on March 18, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 211 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 2000 WG6:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.319 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4995
- Inclination: 11.85°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 60.73°
- Argument of Periapsis: 330.1°
- Mean Anomaly: 168.22°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 3.94500 km
- Magnitude: 17.52
- Albedo: 0.014
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,290 days (3.53 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.56 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.48 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.16 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 162741 (2000 WG6) 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 2000 WG6 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.
