Undetected Asteroid's Close Call with Earth Raises Concerns

A 200-foot asteroid, 2023 NT1, passed within a 60,000-mile radius of Earth on July 13, but astronomers at the Atlas Observatory in South Africa didn't spot it until two days later. The asteroid went undetected due to its approach from the sun, which hid it in the star's glare. This highlights the need for improved asteroid detection methods. In response, the European Space Agency (ESA) has planned a project called NEOMIR, set to launch in 2030, which will use infrared observations to detect asteroids approaching Earth from the direction of the sun.