SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2022 WH3

2022 WH3

2022 WH3 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 1.769 AU once every 2.35 yr.

Amor Observations: 45
Orbital Period · P
2.35 yr
v(q)
34 km/s
v(Q)
14.8 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.05 km
TJ
4.01
Eccentricity · e
0.3948

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.07 AU) and its farthest (2.467 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.397 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 2.35 yr (859 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1.769 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.395 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 5.1° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 34 km/s at perihelion and falls to 14.8 km/s at aphelion.

Its perihelion lies just outside Earth's orbit, which is why it is classed as Earth-approaching rather than Earth-crossing.

Size and surface

No direct size measurement is available; from an absolute magnitude of H = 24.3 and an assumed geometric albedo of 0.14, the diameter works out to roughly 0.05 km.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 45 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5854 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 5 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
1.769 AU
Eccentricity
0.3948
Perihelion
1.07 AU
Aphelion
2.467401 AU
Inclination
5.1°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
163.97°

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
2029-Nov-13 03:29 0.419259 AU
62720215 km
2.55 km/s
2030-Feb-07 12:12 0.396671 AU
59341111 km
14.07 km/s
2055-Dec-02 17:39 0.364753 AU
54566293 km
13.80 km/s
2063-Jan-06 13:24 0.124206 AU
18580902 km
3.73 km/s
2069-Nov-11 22:26 0.411072 AU
61495468 km
2.74 km/s
2070-Feb-08 10:18 0.367105 AU
54918053 km
14.37 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
24.3

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.58537
Condition
5
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.