1994 WR12

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1994 WR12
Discovery[1][2]
Discovered byC. S. Shoemaker
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date28 November 1994
Designations
MPC designation
1994 WR12
Minor planet category
NEO · Aten[1][3]
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch 2022-Jan-21 (JD 2459600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc27.01 yr (9,864 d)
Aphelion1.0577 AU (158.23 million km)
Perihelion0.4562 AU (68.25 million km)
0.7570 AU (113.25 million km)
Eccentricity0.39735
240.6 days (0.659 yr)
217.06°
1° 29m 45.96s / day
Inclination6.8515°
62.608°
206.03°
Earth MOID0.0018 AU (0.70 LD)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
130 m (est.)[4]
92 – 210 m (CNEOS)
Mass2.9×109 kg (est.)[4]
Absolute magnitude (H)
22.3[3]

1994 WR12 is an asteroid and near-Earth object approximately 130 meters (430 feet) in diameter.[3][4] As a member of the Aten group almost all of its orbit is closer to the Sun than Earth is. First imaged at Kitami Observatory on 26 November 1994,[1] it was discovered two nights later by American astronomer Carolyn S. Shoemaker at Palomar Observatory on 28 November 1994.[2] The asteroid then went unobserved from 1994 until it was recovered by Mauna Kea in March 2016.[1] It was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 2 April 2016.[5]

Close approaches[3]
Date JPL SBDB
nominal geocentric
distance 		uncertainty
region
(3-sigma)
2021-11-29 6152017 km ± 74 km[6]
2046-11-25 1623763 km ± 42 km
2190-11-23 6450000 km ± 219 thousand km[7]

Description[]

1994 WR12 orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.5–1.1 AU once every 8 months (240 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.40 and an inclination of 7° with respect to the ecliptic.[3]

It has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0018 AU (269,000 km), which translates into 0.7 lunar distances.[3] On 25 November 2046, it will pass 1623763 km from Earth with an uncertainty of ±42 km.[3] While listed on the Sentry Risk Table the range for the 2046 close approach distance varied from 0.001 AU (150,000 km) to 0.039 AU (5,800,000 km) from Earth.[8]

While listed on the Sentry Risk Table,[9] virtual clones of the asteroid that fit the uncertainty in the known trajectory showed 116 potential impacts between 2054 and 2109.[4] It had about a cumulative 1 in 9090 chance of impacting the Earth.[4] The formerly poorly known trajectory of this asteroid was further complicated by close approaches to Venus and Mercury.[3] It was recovered by Mauna Kea in March 2016,[1] which extended the observation arc from 34 days to 21 years.

It is estimated that an impact would produce the equivalent of 77 megatons of TNT,[4] roughly 1.5 times that of most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated (Tsar Bomba).

See also[]

  • Lost asteroids

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e "1994 WR12". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b "MPEC 1994-Y05 : 1994 WR12". IAU Minor Planet Center. 21 December 1994. Retrieved 17 October 2011. (J94W12R)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (1994 WR12)" (2021-11-28 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Archive: Earth Impact Risk Summary: 1994 WR12". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. 26 March 2016. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016.
  5. ^ "Removed Objects". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office.
  6. ^ "Horizons Batch for 2021-Nov-29 06:04 UT". JPL Horizons. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Horizons Batch for 2190-Nov-23 22:27 UT". JPL Horizons. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  8. ^ "JPL Close-Approach Data: (1994 WR12)". Retrieved 29 November 2021.
    "(1994 WR12)". Archived from the original on 13 December 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2018. (last observation: 1994-12-31; arc: 35 days; Uncertainty: 8)
  9. ^ "Archive: Sentry Risk Table". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. 29 May 2013. Archived from the original on 29 May 2013.

External links[]

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