1994 WR12

1994 WR12 (also written 1994 WR12) is a near-Earth asteroid[1] with a poorly known orbit.[1] It was first imaged on 26 November 1994,[1] and was discovered on 28 November 1994 by Carolyn S. Shoemaker at Palomar Observatory (675).[2] It has a diameter of about 0.13 km,[3] and is listed on the Sentry Risk Table.[4] It is noted for a potential close approach to the Earth in the year 2080 of about 0.0056 AU (840,000 km; 520,000 mi).[5]

Virtual clones of the asteroid that fit the uncertainty in the known trajectory show 129 potential impacts over the next 100 years.[3] It has about a cumulative 1 in 11,000 chance of impacting the Earth.[3] The poorly known trajectory of this asteroid (Uncertainty=8) is further complicated by close approaches to Venus and Mercury.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (1994 WR12)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 1994-12-31 last obs (arc=35 days). http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=1994WR12. Retrieved 2011-10-17. 
  2. ^ "MPEC 1994-Y05 : 1994 WR12". IAU Minor Planet Center. 1994-12-21. http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/J94/J94Y05.html. Retrieved 2011-10-17. 
  3. ^ a b c "Earth Impact Risk Summary: 1994 WR12". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/1994wr12.html. Retrieved 2011-10-17. 
  4. ^ "Sentry Risk Table". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. 14 Oct 2011. http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/. Retrieved 2011-10-17. 
  5. ^ "PHA Close Approaches To The Earth". IAU Minor Planet Center. http://www.minorplanetcenter.org/iau/lists/PHACloseApp.html. Retrieved 2011-10-17. 
  6. ^ "JPL Close-Approach Data: (1994 WR12)". 1994-12-31 last obs (arc=35 days). http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=1994WR12;cad=1#cad. Retrieved 2011-04-07. 

See also

Minor planets
Comets
Meteoroids
Lists / categories