2024W173

2024W173 is a provisional designation assigned to a minor planet in the Solar System. Provisional designations are used to identify newly observed bodies prior to the assignment of a formal number and possible name.

Discovery: The object was first identified in 2024 by an automated sky survey that searches for moving objects. The discovery was reported to the Minor Planet Center, which collects observation data for newly found bodies and assigns provisional designations.

Orbit: At present, the object's orbit is based on a limited arc of observations, producing provisional orbital elements. While initial analyses suggest it orbits the Sun in a path consistent with small Solar System bodies, the precise classification (for example, main-belt asteroid versus a near-Earth object) remains uncertain until more data are gathered.

Physical characteristics: Only basic photometric data are available so far. The absolute magnitude is used to estimate a possible size, but the diameter is uncertain without a known albedo; typical assumptions yield a broad range from a few kilometers to several tens of kilometers.

Status and future observations: 2024W173 remains under observation, with follow-up astrometry and photometry planned to refine its orbit and constrain its physical properties. If the object receives continued observations over multiple oppositions, it may be assigned a permanent number and potentially a name by the International Astronomical Union.