miles, 52 lunar distances). These encounters perturb its orbit parameters slightly, and each pass reduces its inclination further. Physical characteristics During its close encounters in 2001 and 2015, astronomers were able to make radar images of its surface and determine physical properties that remain unknown for most asteroids. According to the ExploreNEOs Warm Spitzer Exploration Science program, is a bright E-type asteroid with an exceptionally high albedo of . Diameter and albedo measures between 350 and 415 meters in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.34 and 0.75. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link an albedo of 0.34 and takes a diameter of 410 meters based on an absolute magnitude of 18.69. The asteroid is modestly elongated, approximately 420 × 330 meters. Rotation period Several rotational lightcurves of have been obtained from radiometric and photometric observations. Lightcurve analysis gave a consolidated rotation period of 3.697 hours with a brightness amplitude between 0.19 and 0.65 magnitude (). Future flyby candidate has an orbit that not only crosses Earth's orbit, but is roughly parallel to it at its furthest. This means that during favourable years it is easy to reach from Earth. Several times this decade, it will be an easier target than Earth's own Moon. It is high on the list of possible Near-Earth Asteroid targets for future flybys, landings, mining, or orbit manipulations. Numbering and naming This minor planet was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 18 August 2002. As of 2018, it has not been named. See also List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2015 Notes References External links IMAGES OF ASTEROID 1998 WT24 NASA Physical properties of near-Earth Asteroid (33342) 1998 WT24 shape model of 1998 WT24 from Goldstone and Arecibo radar imaging 2001 Radar Investigations of Asteroid 33342 (1998 WT24) in December 2001 with Evpatoria-Medichina and Goldstone-Medichina Bistatic Systems 033342 033342 033342 033342 20151211 19981125