Key Facts
- Categorized as a Aten-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 14,476,213 km of Earth in 2022
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
322756 (2001 CK32) is a very small asteroid whose orbit could bring it in close proximity to Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2001 CK32 as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
2001 CK32 orbits the sun every 225 days (0.62 years), coming as close as 0.45 AU and reaching as far as 1.00 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2001 CK32 is probably between 0.379 to 0.847 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
The rotation of 2001 CK32 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 4.17 hours.
Close Approaches
2001 CK32's orbit is 0.08 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.
2001 CK32 has 24 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 15, 2022 | 14,476,213 | 7.292 |
| Feb. 7, 2030 | 11,697,995 | 8.655 |
| Feb. 8, 2038 | 12,241,579 | 8.191 |
| March 3, 2046 | 18,731,863 | 7.251 |
| Feb. 5, 2057 | 12,577,707 | 9.318 |
| March 14, 2065 | 20,667,763 | 7.994 |
| Feb. 8, 2068 | 28,918,101 | 14.168 |
| Feb. 7, 2076 | 12,023,347 | 8.689 |
| March 2, 2084 | 18,800,488 | 7.236 |
| Feb. 6, 2095 | 12,512,721 | 9.059 |
| March 17, 2103 | 21,278,584 | 8.245 |
| Feb. 8, 2106 | 27,390,211 | 13.781 |
| Feb. 10, 2114 | 12,998,989 | 7.934 |
| March 19, 2122 | 21,862,341 | 8.598 |
| Feb. 8, 2125 | 27,296,219 | 13.764 |
| Feb. 7, 2133 | 12,366,583 | 8.636 |
| March 9, 2141 | 19,650,751 | 7.439 |
| Feb. 7, 2152 | 15,426,572 | 10.520 |
| Feb. 22, 2160 | 16,912,733 | 7.079 |
| March 23, 2168 | 26,142,587 | 10.630 |
| Feb. 7, 2171 | 18,526,489 | 11.468 |
| Feb. 24, 2179 | 17,250,978 | 7.064 |
| Feb. 7, 2190 | 13,612,516 | 9.692 |
| March 14, 2198 | 20,301,978 | 7.708 |
Images and Observations
2001 CK32's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Feb. 13, 2001. It was last officially observed on April 7, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,275 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
This asteroid is not considered a viable target for human exploration by the NHATS study.Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2001 CK32:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 0.7246 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.3827
- Inclination: 8.13°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 109.3°
- Argument of Periapsis: 234.07°
- Mean Anomaly: 348.32°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.489 km
- Magnitude: 19.23
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 225 days (0.62 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 35.04 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.00 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.45 AU
- Rotation Period: 4.17 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 322756 (2001 CK32) is indicated by a ◯ pink circle. Note that the object may not be in your current field of view. Use the controls below to adjust position, location, and time.
Size Rendering
The below comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 2001 CK32 to create an approximate landscape rendering with New York City in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.
