Key Facts
- Categorized as a Mars-crossing Asteroid
- Comparable in size to Mount Everest (2.08 km diameter)
- Not a Near Earth Object
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
Wisdom is a mid-sized asteroid with an orbit that crosses the orbit of Mars. NASA JPL has not classified Wisdom as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.
Wisdom orbits the sun every 1,140 days (3.12 years), coming as close as 1.53 AU and reaching as far as 2.73 AU from the sun. Wisdom is about 2.1 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to Mount Everest.
The rotation of Wisdom has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 5.00 hours.
No Close Approaches
Wisdom's orbit is 0.53 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
Wisdom's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Feb. 11, 1977. It was last officially observed on April 8, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,876 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 Wisdom:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.131 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2799
- Inclination: 4.85°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 357.83°
- Argument of Periapsis: 303.72°
- Mean Anomaly: 198.75°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 2.08300 km
- Magnitude: 15.24
- Albedo: 0.432
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,140 days (3.12 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.34 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.73 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.53 AU
- Rotation Period: 5.00 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of Wisdom 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 Wisdom 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.
