# 2022 WJ1 > small asteroid which entered Earth's atmosphere in November 2022 **Wikidata**: [Q115285697](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q115285697) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_WJ1) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/2022-wj1 ## Summary 2022 WJ1 was a small Apollo asteroid that entered Earth's atmosphere in November 2022, discovered on November 19, 2022, by David Rankin and the Mount Lemmon Survey at the Mount Lemmon Observatory. With an absolute magnitude of 33.58 and a periapsis of 0.927 astronomical units, it was an exceptionally faint Earth-crossing asteroid orbiting the Sun that ceased to exist upon atmospheric entry, classifying it as a former entity. ## Key Facts - **Provisional Designation**: 2022 WJ1 - **Alias**: C8FF042 - **Description**: Small asteroid which entered Earth's atmosphere in November 2022 - **Instance Of**: Earth-crossing asteroid (end time: November 19, 2022), Former entity - **Minor Planet Group**: Apollo asteroid - **Parent Astronomical Body**: Sun - **Discovery Date**: November 19, 2022 - **Discoverers**: David Rankin and Mount Lemmon Survey - **Discovery Site**: Mount Lemmon Observatory - **Absolute Magnitude**: 33.58 - **Semi-major Axis**: 1.904737103520691 astronomical units (epoch: November 19, 2022) - **Apoapsis**: 2.882135609347509 astronomical units (epoch: November 19, 2022) - **Periapsis**: 0.9273385976938733 astronomical units (epoch: November 19, 2022) - **Orbital Eccentricity**: 0.5131408969879399 (epoch: November 19, 2022) - **Orbital Inclination**: 2.61764194477995 degrees (epoch: November 19, 2022) - **Orbital Period**: 960.1763164093077 days (epoch: November 19, 2022) - **Mean Anomaly**: 349.7291960018301 degrees (epoch: November 19, 2022) - **Argument of Periapsis**: 35.10562884444036 degrees (epoch: November 19, 2022) - **Longitude of Ascending Node**: 56.71526882098466 degrees (epoch: November 19, 2022) - **Time of Periapsis**: 2459929.893840971 Julian day (epoch: November 19, 2022) - **Minor Planet Center Body ID**: 2022 WJ1 - **JPL Small-Body Database SPK-ID**: 54327740 - **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /g/11sc124fb6 - **Wikipedia Languages**: Commons, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Slovenian, Ukrainian (7 total) ## FAQs **What was 2022 WJ1 and what happened to it?** 2022 WJ1 was a small Apollo asteroid that entered Earth's atmosphere in November 2022. Upon atmospheric entry on November 19, 2022, it ceased to exist in its original form, making it a former entity. **Who discovered 2022 WJ1 and where?** David Rankin and the Mount Lemmon Survey discovered 2022 WJ1 on November 19, 2022, at the Mount Lemmon Observatory. **What were the orbital parameters of 2022 WJ1?** As of the November 19, 2022 epoch, 2022 WJ1 had a semi-major axis of 1.905 AU, orbital period of approximately 960.18 days, eccentricity of 0.513, and inclination of 2.62 degrees. Its orbit ranged from a periapsis of 0.927 AU to an apoapsis of 2.882 AU. **Why is 2022 WJ1 classified as a former entity?** 2022 WJ1 is classified as a former entity because it no longer exists after entering Earth's atmosphere on November 19, 2022. A former entity is defined as an entity that no longer operates or has been terminated, with its existence restricted to the past. ## Why It Matters 2022 WJ1 represents a documented case of a small near-Earth asteroid detected immediately prior to atmospheric entry. Its detection by the Mount Lemmon Survey on the same date as its atmospheric impact (November 19, 2022) demonstrates the capabilities of contemporary near-Earth object monitoring programs. The asteroid's orbital data—particularly its periapsis of 0.927 AU crossing Earth's orbit—contributes to the broader understanding of Apollo asteroid dynamics and impact risk assessment. As a documented former entity with precise orbital parameters, it provides researchers with a complete dataset from discovery through termination, supporting studies of small body populations and planetary defense methodologies. ## Notable For - **Extremely low absolute magnitude of 33.58**, indicating an exceptionally small and faint asteroid - **Same-day discovery and atmospheric entry** on November 19, 2022 - **Classification as a former entity** with a defined end time upon atmospheric impact - **International documentation** across seven Wikipedia language editions including English, French, Italian, Japanese, Slovenian, and Ukrainian - **Precise orbital characterization** with all parameters referenced to the November 19, 2022 epoch ## Body ### Definition and Classification 2022 WJ1 is formally defined as a small asteroid which entered Earth's atmosphere in November 2022. It is classified as an Earth-crossing asteroid within the Apollo asteroid group, orbiting the Sun as its parent astronomical body. As an instance of a former entity, it represents an entity that no longer operates or has been terminated, with its existence confined to the past. The Earth-crossing asteroid classification carries an end time of November 19, 2022, marking its cessation upon atmospheric entry. ### Discovery and Identification David Rankin and the Mount Lemmon Survey discovered 2022 WJ1 on November 19, 2022, at the Mount Lemmon Observatory. The Minor Planet Center assigned it the body ID "2022 WJ1," while the JPL Small-Body Database cataloged it under SPK-ID 54327740. The asteroid additionally carries the alias C8FF042 and is identified in the Google Knowledge Graph with ID /g/11sc124fb6. Discovery documentation appears in the Minor Planet Electronic Circular (MPEC) at minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K22/K22W69.html. ### Orbital Characteristics All orbital parameters are referenced to the epoch of November 19, 2022: - **Semi-major Axis**: 1.904737103520691 AU - **Apoapsis**: 2.882135609347509 AU - **Periapsis**: 0.9273385976938733 AU - **Orbital Period**: 960.1763164093077 days - **Eccentricity**: 0.5131408969879399 - **Inclination**: 2.61764194477995 degrees - **Mean Anomaly**: 349.7291960018301 degrees - **Argument of Periapsis**: 35.10562884444036 degrees - **Longitude of Ascending Node**: 56.71526882098466 degrees - **Time of Periapsis**: 2459929.893840971 Julian day The asteroid belonged to the Apollo asteroid group, characterized by Earth-crossing orbits with semi-major axes greater than 1 AU and periapsis distances less than 1.017 AU. ### Data Sources and References Orbital data derives from the JPL Small-Body Database (Wikidata reference Q4026990), retrieved on January 19, 2024, from ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=54327740. Absolute magnitude values are additionally sourced from Wikidata reference Q106600690. ### International Presence 2022 WJ1 maintains documented presence across seven Wikipedia language editions: Wikimedia Commons, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Slovenian, and Ukrainian. ## References 1. [JPL Small-Body Database](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=54327740) 2. Minor Planet Center database 3. [Source](https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K22/K22W69.html) 4. JPL Small-Body Database