After 70 years, Asteroid 2022 CP1 approaches Earth again; NASA provides details

The asteroid that struck Earth around 65 million years ago profoundly impacted the planet’s future. While this impact was disastrous, it wasn’t the biggest asteroid to ever hit Earth. Researchers have now found the crater of the largest asteroid to ever hit the planet located beneath the surface in New South Wales, Australia. The Deniliquin structure, which is nearly 520 kilometers wide, surpasses the previously known biggest asteroid crater called Vredefort, which was around 300 kilometers wide. The Deniliquin impact likely occurred on Gondwana's eastern part before its continent fragmentation.

And asteroids have not stopped coming and flying by the Earth and NASA, using its advanced tech, keeps a constant watch. Now, the US space agency has issued an alert against an asteroid that will pass Earth closely soon.

Asteroid 2022 CP1

The asteroid, given the designation of Asteroid 2022 CP1, is on its way towards Earth and it will make its closest approach to the planet today, August 17. The asteroid was spotted by NASA’s Defense Coordination Office (PDCO), which is responsible for monitoring the skies and keeping a watch on various Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). Asteroid 2022 CP1 is expected to make its closest approach to the planet at a distance of 5.2 million kilometers at a speed of 35347 kilometers per hour, as per NASA.

It belongs to the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids, which are Earth-crossing space rocks with semi-major axes larger than Earth's. These asteroids are named after the humongous 1862 Apollo asteroid, discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s.

Despite its close approach, Asteroid 2022 CP1 does not pose any potential threat to the planet due to its relatively small size. With a width of around 38 feet, the asteroid is just as big as a bus. It does not meet the criteria to be qualified as a Potentially Hazardous Object.

What’s more astonishing is that this is not the first time that this asteroid will come close to Earth. Its first-ever close approach in recorded history took place on August 19, 1956, as it passed the planet by a distance of 2.4 million kilometers. After today, the next time this asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth will be on February 7, 2051, when it will pass by at a distance of 6 million kilometers.