Near Earth Asteroids
Tracking the small, faint bodies in the solar system is a field where professional and amateur astronomers alike can make meaningful contributions. There are thousands are asteroids, as of June 28, 2022 over 29,248 NEOs have been discovered. Many of these are in orbits that may some day endanger our planet. Tracking them is difficult and challenging. Many of the are very small and faint and because of the orbits they are following, the ability to track them from Earth is limited. This site was inspired by NASA's Asteroid Redirect Mission that was under consideration but has been canceled. It was designed to bring a small NEA into lunar orbit for exploration by Earth astronauts
Here's how the Near Earth Asteroid pages work:
On this site, links to other sites generally open in a new window. If the new window is left open, any other link clicked should occupy that same window. Below is a description on the pages on the site and what you can expect to find there.
Asteroid Info on Near Earth Asteroids gives basic information on asteroids and Near Earth Asteroid. It also links to Astra's Asteroid Catalog that gives information on some of the NEAs that Astra finds interesting.
NEA Detection and Planetary Defense gives basic information on the programs that have been undertaken to find Near Earth Asteroids.
Asteroid Exploration Missions covers space missions that flew to or flew by asteroids on the way to other locations. On this site, links to other sites generally open in a new window. If the new window is left open, any other link clicked should occupy that same window.
NEA Observer Tools links to resources made available by various organizations to support Near Earth Asteroid detection and research.
NEA Organizations discusses those organizations that participate in the dection and study of Near Earth Asteroids
How to Make Near Earth Asteroid Observations gives hints and links to articles on making observations for amateurs and serious NEA seekers.
This website gives the name and important information on the upcoming known close asteroid passages to Earth. This page allows the information to be viewed in miles or kilometers. It gives the size of the asteroid moving toward Earth, the date of the closest passage and how far away the object will pass. For instance, at the time of this update the largest asteroid that will pass near the Earth is 280 ft. or 85 m. It will be 4,490,000 miles away at closest approach or 7,225,955 km. The object's name is 2021 EV3 and the date of the passage is March 25, 2021.
Go to JPL's website - Next 5 Asteroid Approaches
This page was updated by Dawn Jenkins, June 27, 2022.
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