All articles tagged with #near earth objects
A cannonball-sized meteorite crashed through a Texas home after a night of widespread fireballs across the United States, with NASA data linking the events to fragmentation of a larger object; scientists say the ground impact provides a rare data point on how meteoroids break apart and survive entry.
Blue Origin is teaming with NASA's JPL/Caltech on the NEO Hunter mission to defend Earth from hazardous asteroids. The plan uses Blue Ring, a modular satellite bus, to deploy cubesats that characterize a threat and, if indicated, redirect its trajectory with an ion-beam emitter; if the rock is too big, a Robust Kinetic Disruption phase could strike it to alter course. The concept builds on NASA's DART approach and also envisions Blue Ring supporting other missions (e.g., Mars telecom) in deep space.
NASA warns at an AAAS meeting that more than 15,000 asteroids large enough to destroy a city remain undetected, leaving Earth with little warning time; only about 40% of roughly 25,000 known city-scale asteroids have been cataloged, while many remain dark or near the Sun. Improving detection through the planned Near-Earth Object Surveyor and expanded ground- and space-based surveys, plus international coordination and sustained funding, could provide crucial warning time to mitigate impacts, but a late discovery could still arrive with limited time to respond.
NASA experts warn that thousands of mid-sized near-Earth asteroids (roughly 140 meters and larger) could strike regional cities, but most remain undetected; scientists estimate up to 25,000 such objects exist near Earth, with only about 40% identified so far, highlighting gaps in detection and defense, despite progress like the Near-Earth Object Surveyor telescope and lessons from the DART mission, with experts urging more funding and planning to prevent regional catastrophes.
A new study warns that dense clusters of debris from the Taurid meteor stream, associated with Comet Encke, could pose a threat to Earth in 2032 and 2036 due to potential impacts from larger fragments, but with proper observation and mitigation, the risk can be managed.
NASA has confirmed that the object dubbed Earth's 'second moon' is actually a quasi-moon, an asteroid that orbits the sun in near-lockstep with Earth, and not a true moon. Known as 2025 PN7, it has likely been near Earth for about 60 years and will remain so until around 2083, but it has minimal gravitational impact due to its small size.
Scientists have discovered a new near-Earth asteroid, 2025 SC79, which is challenging to observe due to its proximity to the Sun and its orbit entirely within Venus's orbit. This asteroid, about 700 meters in diameter, completes an orbit around the Sun in 128 days and poses potential impact risks, highlighting the importance of studying such elusive objects for planetary defense.
A small asteroid named 2025 TF passed closer to Earth than many satellites, flying over Antarctica at just 265 miles altitude on October 1, 2025. It was detected shortly after its passage by the Catalina Sky Survey and ESA's Planetary Defence Office, highlighting the challenges in tracking small near-Earth objects. The asteroid posed no significant threat but could have created a meteor if it had entered Earth's atmosphere. Another small asteroid, 2025 TQ2, also passed near Earth the following day.
A large asteroid, 2025 FA22, nearly the size of a skyscraper, will pass close to Earth at over 24,000 mph on September 18, but poses no threat according to NASA and ESA. The asteroid, detected in March, offers a rare opportunity for study and highlights the importance of monitoring potentially hazardous objects in space.
A massive asteroid, 427 to 951 feet in size and traveling at over 24,000 mph, will pass close to Earth on September 18, but poses no threat according to NASA and ESA. The asteroid, named 2025 FA22, was discovered in March and is considered potentially hazardous due to its size and proximity, but updated measurements have ruled out collision risk. It offers a rare opportunity for close study and highlights the importance of monitoring near-Earth objects.
NASA warns of two close-passing asteroids tomorrow: 2025 QV5, a small 35-foot asteroid passing at 500,000 miles, and 2025 QD8, a 71-foot asteroid passing at 136,000 miles. Neither pose a threat to Earth, but both are of scientific interest, with the larger one making its closest approach in over a century.
An asteroid approximately 71 feet wide will pass close to Earth on September 3, providing a rare opportunity for observation and study, with a livestream available for viewing. The asteroid's closest approach will be about 136,000 miles away, and it offers valuable insights into near-Earth objects and planetary defense efforts.
A recent study compares the likelihood of dying from an asteroid impact to other causes like lightning and car crashes, finding that while asteroid impacts are rare, they are more likely than some other deadly events, highlighting Earth's vulnerability and ongoing planetary defense efforts.
NASA and international space agencies are monitoring asteroid 2025 OL1, which will pass Earth at a safe distance of 1.29 million kilometers on July 30, 2025. Although it is classified as potentially hazardous due to its size, there is no threat to Earth. These flybys serve as important opportunities to improve detection and tracking systems, enhancing planetary defense strategies for future, potentially more dangerous objects.
NASA announced that the asteroid 2025 OW, about the size of a plane, will pass by Earth at a safe distance of approximately 390,000 miles on July 28, traveling at nearly 47,000 mph. Experts emphasize that such close approaches are routine and pose no threat, with NASA tracking its orbit precisely. The article also highlights the upcoming close encounter with asteroid Apophis in 2029, which will pass closer to Earth but still safely.