Near-Earth Object
33342 (1998 WT24
NASA ID: 20033342
33342 (1998 WT24 will pass Earth on 24 December 2026 at a distance of 39.39 lunar distances (LD) - about 15,143,237 km - travelling at 43,858 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 432 and 432 metres, roughly the size of The Shard in London (310 m tall). NASA classifies it as a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) - a designation based on size and orbital proximity, not on any predicted impact.
Close Approach Date
24 December 2026
In 177 days
Miss Distance
39.39 LD
15,143,237 km
39 times the Moon's distance from Earth
Velocity
43,858 km/h
1.6 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station
Est. Diameter
432–432 m
Absolute Magnitude
H = 18.02
The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size
Hazard Classification
Potentially Hazardous
A watch-list label based on size and orbit, not a predicted impact
The real orbit in 3D
The actual path of 33342 (1998 WT24 around the Sun, computed from JPL orbital elements. Drag to rotate, scroll to zoom, and use the time controls to run the orbit forwards or back.
Every recorded pass
Each dot is one close approach of 33342 (1998 WT24 to Earth between 1908 and 2099, from JPL's records. Lower means closer: a dot under the dashed line passed nearer than the Moon. The orange dot is the approach on this page.
Size Comparison
Reading the Numbers
- A lunar distance (LD) is the average gap between Earth and the Moon, about 384,400 km. It is the standard yardstick for close approaches. Read more →
- Diameter estimates come from brightness. A dark surface reflects less light than a bright one, so the true size can sit anywhere in the quoted range. Read more →
- Potentially hazardous is a watch-list label based on size and orbital proximity. It does not mean an impact is expected. Read more →
