(33342) 1998 WT24

is a Astéroïde Aten in the zone of influence of Venus which often approaches Mercure, Venus and the Ground. It is a Astéroïde potentially dangerous among the most studied.

Weak aphelion

was discovered on November 25th, 1998 by LINEAR four months after a passage close to Mercury (approximately 0,047 ua).

At the time of this discovery, the astronomers sought the first Astéroïde Apohele (orbiting completely inside the terrestrial orbit). Early in the year, David J. Tholen announced to have found the first of them which was named , but it was lost before being confirmed. Thus, 1993 DA remained the asteroid of weaker Aphélie with 1,023 ua until the discovery of which itself was détrôné a few weeks later by and its aphelion of 1,013 ua. Other asteroids followed one another under the weakest aphelion until February 2003 when first apohele authenticates was found and confirmed. To date, is the numbered asteroid having weakest aphelion.

Zone of influence of Venus

is the second asteroid found in the zone of influence of Venus. It is located towards the border interior while (99907) 1989 GOES, the found first, is at the external border. A planet can capture an asteroid which evolves/moves in its sphere of influence and take it along in an Co-orbital relation such as Trojan or in horseshoe. However, like it often approaches the Earth and Mercury, and Venus never remain a long time Co-orbital. On the six objects evolving/moving in the zone of influence of Venus, only is really Co-orbital.

Collision risk

is a potentially dangerous asteroid whose orbit sometimes brings it closer very close to the Earth that it could strike. December 16th 2001, it became the first dangerous asteroid observed passer by with less than 5 lunar distances from the Earth. Other asteroids for summer have observed passing more close (and even inside the lunar orbit), but from less size and not presenting a significant threat.

This passage of 2001 the most was brought closer known since that of in 1999, although was not observed then but was found years after its passage.

In September 2004, the asteroid threatening (4179) Toutatis, much more mediatized, passed to less than 4 lunar distances from the Earth. Because of its bigger size (5,7 km) and of its closer distance, Toutatis was, with more close to the Earth, approximately a half magnitude more luminous than at the time of its passage. However, Toutatis passed during a Full moon and thus remains the passage of asteroid which was most easily observable

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