(529366) 2009 WM1, provisional designation 2009 WM1, is a sub-kilometer asteroid and near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 280 meters (920 feet) in diameter. After its discovery by the Catalina Sky Survey at the Catalina Station in Arizona, United States, this potentially hazardous asteroid 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.

Numbering and naming

This minor planet was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 18 May 2019 (M.P.C. 114667). As of 2019, it has not been named.

Orbit and classification

2009 WM1 orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.98–1.38 AU once every 15 months (468 days; semi-major axis of 1.18 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.17 and an inclination of 26° with respect to the ecliptic.

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.

On 23 November 2059, 2009 WM1 will pass 0.0046 AU (690,000 km; 430,000 mi) from Earth. On 23 November 2199, it will make another close approach at a distance of 0.0005 AU (75,000 km; 46,000 mi) to 0.069 AU, 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.

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