NASA’s Near Earth Object Program
This past month, Earth had two asteroids pass within the “moon’s” distance of good ole terra firma. These asteroids were discovered three days before they were scheduled to pass Earth by. Makes you think, doesn’t it!
NASA has in place a program called the NEAR EARTH OBJECT PROGRAM.
The purpose of the Near-Earth Object Program is to coordinate NASA-sponsored efforts to detect, track and characterize potentially hazardous asteroids and comets that could approach the Earth. The NEO Program will focus on the goal of locating at least 90 percent of the estimated 1,000 asteroids and comets that approach the Earth and are larger than 1 kilometer (about 2/3-mile) in diameter, by the end of the next decade. In addition to managing the detection and cataloging of Near-Earth objects, the NEO Program office will be responsible for facilitating communications between the astronomical community and the public should any potentially hazardous objects be discovered.
