SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2021 WH

2021 WH

2021 WH belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, whose orbits cross the path of Earth; with a semi-major axis of 2.405 AU it takes 3.73 yr to circle the Sun.

Apollo Observations: 87
Orbital Period · P
3.73 yr
v(q)
52.7 km/s
v(Q)
7 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.03 km
TJ
3.03
Eccentricity · e
0.7655

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (0.564 AU) and its farthest (4.246 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3.682 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 3.73 yr (1,362 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.405 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.765) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 6.4° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 52.7 km/s at perihelion and falls to 7 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 = 25.2 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.03 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 87 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3296 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 7 signals a poorly constrained orbit, so its future path should be treated as provisional.

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
2.405 AU
Eccentricity
0.7655
Perihelion
0.564 AU
Aphelion
4.246027 AU
Inclination
6.4°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
90.0°

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
2047-Dec-07 12:34 0.174222 AU
26063246 km
31.47 km/s
2051-May-23 00:57 0.010600 AU
1585772 km
21.92 km/s
2062-Aug-02 00:48 0.448176 AU
67046152 km
22.70 km/s
2077-Apr-29 06:10 0.247533 AU
37030425 km
35.92 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
25.2

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.32962
Condition
7
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.

Keep exploring

Explore asteroids, comets and near-Earth objects with JPL orbital data.