2017 WT28
2017 WT28
Current distance from Earth
298,180,120km
775.7 lunar distances1.993 AU
Heliocentric orbit · top-down · live
Next close approach
2046-Nov-21
Passes 14.7 lunar distances from Earth — about 5,657,380 km, closing at 5.4 km/s.
Long-term impact monitoring
2017 WT28 is tracked on the long-term monitoring list — here’s what the numbers actually mean.
Torino scale
0 — No hazard
Cumulative impact chance
1 in 87
1.154% across all dates
Palermo scale
-3.83
below background risk
Possible dates tracked
113
between 2083 and 2121
A Torino rating of 0 means no cause for concern, and a Palermo value of -3.83 — below zero — means the chance is lower than the background risk of a similar random impact over the same period. The headline figure is a cumulative probability spread across 113 possible dates between 2083 and 2121, so the chance on any one date is far smaller still. No impact is predicted, and objects are routinely removed from monitoring as their orbits are refined — both Apophis and 2024 YR4 were.
Orbit class
ATE
around the Sun
Orbital period
0.85 yr
312 days
Diameter
9 m
about the size of a house
Eccentricity
0.132
orbit shape
Inclination
5.8°
to the ecliptic
Discovered
—
Size in perspective
≈ 1×2017 WT28 is about the size of a double-decker bus.
Observe it tonight
Apparent brightness
mag 47.0
Too faint to observe
Right ascension
8h 46m
Declination
+15° 27′
From your location
tap to check ›
2017 WT28 is currently faint (magnitude 47.0) — it brightens around close approaches. Position is in equatorial coordinates (J2000); pair it with our sky conditions to plan a session.
Frequently asked questions
How close does 2017 WT28 come to Earth?
Its next notable close approach is on 2046-Nov-21, when it passes about 14.7 lunar distances from Earth — roughly 5,657,380 km. 2017 WT28 is currently about 776 lunar distances away — the live orbit and distance are shown above.
Is 2017 WT28 going to hit Earth?
No impact is predicted. 2017 WT28 is tracked on the long-term impact-monitoring list with a cumulative chance of roughly 1 in 87, spread across 113 possible dates between 2083 and 2121 — a very low probability. Its Torino rating is 0 (no hazard), and its Palermo value of -3.83 sits below the background level. Objects are removed from monitoring as their orbits are refined. The full impact-monitoring breakdown is shown above.
How big is 2017 WT28?
2017 WT28 is estimated at about 9 m across — about the size of a house. Size estimates are derived from how bright the asteroid appears and refined by radar and thermal measurements when it passes close to Earth.
What kind of orbit does 2017 WT28 have?
2017 WT28 is ATE object. It orbits the Sun once every 0.85 years, on an elliptical path that spends much of its time inside Earth’s orbit. The interactive orbit diagram above shows where it is right now.
Can I see 2017 WT28 through a telescope?
Most of the time 2017 WT28 is far too faint to see, but during a close approach it can brighten enough for amateur telescopes. Check the close-approach date above, then plan your night with our sky and space-weather tools.
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