Near-Earth Asteroids & Near-Earth Objects

Abstract

Near-Earth asteroids are asteroids, but a particular type of that space object. They are generally considered as the most dangerous to the Earth, because of their proximity to our planet. In this chapter near-Earth asteroids were defined and described. The number of NEAs and large NEAs was estimated, and recent examples of NEAs provided. The threshold for being included as an NEA was noted as being 3 million miles from the Earth. The existence of NEA streams was documented, and binary NEAs were documented. The odds of an NEA strike in the next decade were estimated at one in 10,000. An increasing number of NEAs was noted. Near- Earth objects were also defined. The Near Earth Object Coordination Center and NASA’s Near Earth Object program were discussed. Near-Earth Objects were quantified and the number of potentially hazardous objects was noted. It was also clear that the number of NEOs is increasing.

Keywords: Amor group, Apollo group, asteroid streams, Asteroid 1994 XM 1, Aten group, bimodal echoes, binary asteroids, Canada, Herzburg Institute of Astrophysics, linear, NEA, Near Earth Object Program, Ottowa, Palomar Observatory Asteroid Survey, solar system, Spaceguard Foundation, Spacewatch Program, The Near Earth Asteroid Tracking Team, threshold, University of Arizona.