Discovery date 2009 Nov 17 Minor planet category Apollo NEO,
PHA Discovered 17 November 2009 Asteroid group Apollo asteroid | MPC designation 2009 WM1 Observation arc 1642 days (4.50 yr) Absolute magnitude 20.4 Discoverer Catalina Sky Survey | |
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Discovered by Catalina Sky Survey (703)
0.68-m Schmidt Aphelion 1.3801 AU (206.46 Gm) (Q) Similar Solar System, 2007 VK184, GU Piscium b, Kepler‑421b, Kepler‑296e | ||
2009 WM1 is an Apollo near-Earth asteroid that is estimated to be 280 metres in diameter with an estimated mass of 2.9×1010 kg. When the asteroid was first discovered for about a month it was briefly listed at a Torino Scale of 1 and a cumulative Palermo Scale of −0.87. It was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 26 June 2013. 2009 WM1 will pass 0.0046 AU (690,000 km; 430,000 mi) from Earth on 2059-Nov-23.
Even though 2009 WM1 has an Earth MOID of 0.00009 AU (13,000 km; 8,400 mi), the orbit and future close approaches are well determined with an orbital uncertainty of 1. 2009 WM1 will pass Earth at a distance of 0.0005 AU (75,000 km; 46,000 mi) to 0.069AU on 2199-Nov-23, but since it is a close approach and the exact distance in uncertain, future close approaches after 2199 are uncertain.
2014 passage
The 21 May 2014 Earth close approach of 0.3622 AU (54,180,000 km; 33,670,000 mi) should allow a refinement to the orbit. From 7 May 2014 until 2 June 2014 the asteroid will be brighter than apparent magnitude 20. The asteroid will come to opposition on 18 May 2014 when it will be up all night.