NASA currently tracks over 1.1 million asteroids within the solar system, with thousands being discovered each month. Among these, near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) are of particular interest due to their proximity to Earth's orbit, posing potential risks.
On January 29, 2025, nine asteroids will reach their closest points to Earth, including one classified as potentially hazardous.
The largest of these is asteroid (2022 CN1), estimated to have a diameter between 145 and 324 meters. It will come closest to Earth at 04:35 UTC today. The second-largest NEA, (2020 HL4), measures between 32 and 71 meters, while (2019 BL) ranks third with a size of 24 to 54 meters.
The closest approach today will be made by asteroid (2025 BY1), which will pass at a distance of approximately 2.6 million kilometers at 15:44 UTC.
The asteroid that has come closest to Earth without impact was (2020 QG), which passed by at a distance of only 3,000 kilometers on August 16, 2020. Discovered six hours post-flyby, it was traveling at around 44,000 km/h. Due to its small size of 3 to 6 meters, it was expected to disintegrate upon atmospheric entry.
Potentially hazardous asteroids are defined as those that approach Earth's orbit within 0.05 AU (approximately 7.5 million kilometers) and have an absolute magnitude of 22 or less, indicating a size of at least 140 meters that could cause significant damage in the event of a collision. Approximately 20 percent of NEAs are classified as potentially hazardous.
Currently, one potentially hazardous asteroid, (2022 CN1), is near Earth.
Details for (2022 CN1):
First observed: July 24, 2004
Last observed: January 25, 2025
Absolute magnitude: 21.32 mag (dim)
Estimated diameter: 145 m to 324 m
Distance: 8.9 million km
Speed: 54,530.1 km/h (15.15 km/s)
Closest approach time: January 29, 2025, at 04:35 UTC
Asteroids that cross Earth's orbit are known as Earth-crossers. Apollo-type NEAs approach from outside Earth's orbit, while Aten-type NEAs approach from within. Today, a total of eight Earth-crossers are nearing our planet.
Amor and Atira-type asteroids do not cross Earth's orbit. Atira asteroids remain entirely within Earth's orbit, while Amor asteroids approach from the outside.