Asteroid 1998 WT₂₄

Images captured in the early morning on Dec. 14, 2001 (2 days before its closest approach) showing rapid motion of asteroid 1998 WT24. During this observation it was at a distance of 2.5 mil. km from the Earth and shined at +10.1 mag in the constelation of Gemini. These images were captured in primary focus of 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov with CCD Apogee AP7p (FOV of 18 x 18 arcmin, R-filter). Aproximate coordinates are R.A.= 6h 55.4m, Decl.= +25d 51m. Brightest star in the FOV is GSC 1898:1393 (+8.8 mag). Due to the rapid motion of asteroid only very short exposures (9 sec) could be used. Images show positions of asteroid 1998 WT24 between 02:29:09 UT and 02:35:33 UT (i.e. only 6.5 min). North is up and east to the left.

original size	original size (1.84 MB)

Further informations:

• 3-D orbit of asteroid
• more detailed informations about asteroid
• web pages of Astronomical Institute, Ondrejov
• info about our main observational program (photometry of NEAs)

---