Asteroid 2018 WV1 will flyby Earth at a very close distance of 0.09 LD on December 2, 2018

A newly discovered asteroid designated 2018 WV1 will make a very close approach to our planet at 03:11 UTC on December 2, 2018. The object will flyby Earth at a distance of 0.09 LD / 0.00022 AU (32 911 km / 20 450 miles) – third closest this year.

This object belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids and has an estimated diameter between 2.5 and 5.6 m (8.2 and 18.3 feet).

It was first observed at Catalina Sky Survey, Arizona on November 29, 2018, three days before its close approach.

[ Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Mission Design | Physical Parameters | Close-Approach Data ] 

Since the beginning of the year, our observatories have detected 70 asteroids with flyby distance within 1 LD.

This is the third closest known asteroid to flyby Earth so far this year, sharing this place with 2018 PD20 of August 10, 2018.

References:

Asteroid 2018 WV1 at Minor Planet Center; at CNEOS

Featured image: The green line indicates the object's apparent motion relative to the Earth, and the bright green marks are the object's location at approximately half hour intervals. The Moon's orbit is grey. The blue arrow points in the direction of Earth's motion and the yellow arrow points toward the Sun. Credit: Minor Planet Center