SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2021 WD3

2021 WD3

2021 WD3 is an Aten-type near-Earth asteroid whose orbit lies mostly inside that of Earth, with a semi-major axis of 0.99 AU and a period of 0.98 yr.

Aten Observations: 28
Orbital Period · P
0.98 yr
v(q)
33.3 km/s
v(Q)
26.9 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.03 km
TJ
6.12
Eccentricity · e
0.1067

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.884 AU) and its farthest (1.095 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.211 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 0.98 yr (360 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 0.99 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.107 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 8.89° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 33.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 26.9 km/s at aphelion.

Because q < 1 AU and Q > 1 AU, this orbit geometrically intersects the region of Earth's orbit.

Size and surface

No direct size measurement is available; from an absolute magnitude of H = 25.55 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.03 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 28 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.386 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 6 indicates a moderately constrained orbit; predictions decades ahead still carry noticeable uncertainty.

About these computed values

Orbital periods, perihelion and aphelion speeds, and diameter estimates on this page are computed by SpaceAtlas from the JPL SBDB orbital elements. They are derived quantities, not values copied from the source catalogue.

Orbital Parameters

Semi-Major Axis
0.9895 AU
Eccentricity
0.1067
Perihelion
0.884 AU
Aphelion
1.09508 AU
Inclination
8.89°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
332.45°

Orbit diagram

The Sun sits at the focus (orange). Earth's orbit is the grey circle at 1 AU. The red dot marks the object's position at the catalog epoch.

3D orbit (interactive)

Drag to rotate; scroll or pinch to zoom. The Sun is at the focus (orange), Earth's orbit is the grey ring at 1 AU, and the red dot marks the object's current position.

Close approaches

Predicted close approaches to Earth, from NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).

Date (UTC)Miss distanceVelocity
2027-Apr-21 18:45 0.101681 AU
15211255 km
7.41 km/s
2028-Apr-11 04:57 0.176332 AU
26378880 km
9.88 km/s
2029-Apr-04 05:47 0.268594 AU
40181040 km
12.76 km/s
2030-Mar-29 13:01 0.366129 AU
54772070 km
15.81 km/s
2074-Nov-19 21:53 0.307960 AU
46070227 km
17.97 km/s
2075-Nov-16 21:04 0.201900 AU
30203802 km
14.85 km/s
2076-Nov-13 07:31 0.101839 AU
15234960 km
11.80 km/s
2077-Nov-11 20:28 0.047937 AU
7171254 km
8.95 km/s
2078-Nov-13 06:40 0.044128 AU
6601526 km
6.59 km/s

Distances in astronomical units (AU) and kilometres. Source: NASA/JPL CNEOS Close Approach Data API.

Physical Parameters

Diameter
— km
Albedo
—
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
25.55

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.38602
Condition
6
Orbit ID
—
Data source: NASA JPL Small-Body Database · NASA CNEOS. Orbital periods, perihelion and aphelion speeds, and diameter estimates on this page are computed by SpaceAtlas from the JPL SBDB orbital elements. They are derived quantities, not values copied from the source catalogue.

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