Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
178,970 studies31 sourcesUpdated 42 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Astronomy & Astrophysics

Rotation, spectral type, and albedo of the potentially hazardous asteroid (153814) 2001 WN ₅

  • Jin Beniyama1,2
  • Alexey V. Sergeyev1,3
  • Konstantinos Odysseas Xenos1
  • Benoit Carry1
  • Petr Pravec4
  • Petr Fatka4
  • Peter Kušnirák4
  • Larry Denneau5
  • Vasilij Shevchenko3
5 affiliations
  1. 1Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange
  2. 2Department of Earth and Planetary Science, The University of Tokyo
  3. 3Institute of Astronomy, V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University
  4. 4Astronomical Institute ASCR
  5. 5Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii
Open at sourceDOICite

Abstract

Context. The potentially hazardous asteroid (153814) 2001 WN ₅ will pass inside the lunar distance on June 26, 2028, offering a rare opportunity to characterize a kilometer-scale near-Earth asteroid at high angular resolution. However, previous taxonomic classifications have been inconsistent and its physical properties remain insufficiently consolidated.

Aims. We aim to constrain the rotation state, shape, visible colors, geometric albedo, and taxonomy of 2001 WN ₅ prior to its 2028 close approach.

Methods. We combined new photometry from the 1.54 m Danish Telescope (DK154) with archival and survey observations from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), Dark Energy Camera (DECam), Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), and Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). These data were used to refine the rotation period, investigate the spin-shape solution space, derive visible colors, and estimate the geometric albedo from phase curve slopes.

Results. We measured a synodic rotation period of 4.263 ± 0.002 h and 4.259 ± 0.009 h from DK154 and TESS, respectively, consistent with results from previous light curve observations. The available light curves do not uniquely constrain the sidereal rotation period, but the preferred pole solutions lie in the southern hemisphere in ecliptic coordinates. Visible colors from multiple independent datasets are consistent with the C-complex, while the TESS phase curve slopes give p V = 0.13 ± 0.04, consistent with previous thermal-infrared albedo estimates. Combining the visible colors, albedo, and published near-infrared spectra, we classify 2001 WN ₅ as a likely B-type asteroid. The effective diameter is estimated to be D = 0.81 ± 0.13 km using the H - G model, while the linear model yields a slightly smaller value of 0.74 ± 0.11 km. Dynamical models indicate that 2001 WN ₅ likely originated from the inner main belt via the ν ₆ resonance, with the Flora–Baptistina and Nysa–Polana complexes identified as the parent candidates.

Conclusions. During the 2028 encounter, 2001 WN ₅ should reach an apparent diameter of about 0.5 arcsec, making it an excellent target for coordinated photometric, spectroscopic, and high-angular-resolution observations. Observations during the 2026–2027 apparition will be essential for improving its spin and shape model before its 2028 close approach.

Related

  1. Size, Albedo, and Taxonomy of Asteroid (1201) Strenua from Stellar Occultation and ATLAS Photometry
    A. T. P. Jatmiko, M. Yusuf, B. Dermawan +6
    arXivPreprintCC BY 4.0Full textPlanetary science & exoplanetsarXiv
  2. Thermophysical characterization of the potentially hazardous near-Earth object 2024 YR4
    T. G. Müller, E. M. MacLennan, A. Y. Burdanov +7
    arXivPreprintCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Full textPlanetary science & exoplanetsarXiv
  3. Combination of multi-observatory photometry to determine asteroid rotation periods
    Kristers Nagainis, Ilgmars Eglitis
    arXivPreprintCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Full textInstrumentation & methodsPlanetary science & exoplanetsarXiv
  4. Infrared-to-visible albedo ratio of Phobos
    Dyer T. J., Beccarelli J., Delbo M. +5
    Astronomy & AstrophysicsPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textPlanetary science & exoplanetsDOAJ
  5. Contribution of cosmic alphas to generation of albedo neutrons and gammas in lunar regolith: A computational study based on GEANT4 simulations
    Harshala Gaonkar, A. Ilker Topuz
    arXivPreprintCC BY 4.0Full textHigh-energy astrophysicsApplied physics & instrumentationarXiv

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{beniyama2026rotation,
  title = {{Rotation, spectral type, and albedo of the potentially hazardous asteroid (153814) 2001 WN ₅}},
  author = {Jin Beniyama and Alexey V. Sergeyev and Konstantinos Odysseas Xenos and Benoit Carry and Petr Pravec and Petr Fatka and Peter Kušnirák and Larry Denneau and Vasilij Shevchenko},
  journal = {Astronomy \& Astrophysics},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/202661418},
  url = {https://www.aanda.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202661418},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Rotation, spectral type, and albedo of the potentially hazardous asteroid (153814) 2001 WN ₅
AU  - Jin Beniyama
AU  - Alexey V. Sergeyev
AU  - Konstantinos Odysseas Xenos
AU  - Benoit Carry
AU  - Petr Pravec
AU  - Petr Fatka
AU  - Peter Kušnirák
AU  - Larry Denneau
AU  - Vasilij Shevchenko
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Astronomy & Astrophysics
DO  - 10.1051/0004-6361/202661418
UR  - https://www.aanda.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202661418
AB  - Context. The potentially hazardous asteroid (153814) 2001 WN ₅ will pass inside the lunar distance on June 26, 2028, offering a rare opportunity to characterize a kilometer-scale near-Earth asteroid at high angular resolution. However, previous taxonomic classifications have been inconsistent and its physical properties remain insufficiently consolidated.  Aims. We aim to constrain the rotation state, shape, visible colors, geometric albedo, and taxonomy of 2001 WN ₅ prior to its 2028 close approach.  Methods. We combined new photometry from the 1.54 m Danish Telescope (DK154) with archival and survey observations from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), Dark Energy Camera (DECam), Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), and Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). These data were used to refine the rotation period, investigate the spin-shape solution space, derive visible colors, and estimate the geometric albedo from phase curve slopes.  Results. We measured a synodic rotation period of 4.263 ± 0.002 h and 4.259 ± 0.009 h from DK154 and TESS, respectively, consistent with results from previous light curve observations. The available light curves do not uniquely constrain the sidereal rotation period, but the preferred pole solutions lie in the southern hemisphere in ecliptic coordinates. Visible colors from multiple independent datasets are consistent with the C-complex, while the TESS phase curve slopes give p V = 0.13 ± 0.04, consistent with previous thermal-infrared albedo estimates. Combining the visible colors, albedo, and published near-infrared spectra, we classify 2001 WN ₅ as a likely B-type asteroid. The effective diameter is estimated to be D = 0.81 ± 0.13 km using the H - G model, while the linear model yields a slightly smaller value of 0.74 ± 0.11 km. Dynamical models indicate that 2001 WN ₅ likely originated from the inner main belt via the ν ₆ resonance, with the Flora–Baptistina and Nysa–Polana complexes identified as the parent candidates.  Conclusions. During the 2028 encounter, 2001 WN ₅ should reach an apparent diameter of about 0.5 arcsec, making it an excellent target for coordinated photometric, spectroscopic, and high-angular-resolution observations. Observations during the 2026–2027 apparition will be essential for improving its spin and shape model before its 2028 close approach.
SN  - 0004-6361
SN  - 1432-0746
ER  -