Near Earth Objects (NEO)

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Introduction

What Are Near-Earth Objects (NEOs)?

NEOs are asteroids and comets that come close to Earth. While many simply pass by, some have the potential to collide with our planet.

These objects have played a crucial role in shaping Earth's history, and understanding them is key to preventing future impacts.

The Solar System

The solar system was formed around 4.6 billion years ago from a massive cloud of gas and dust. As gravity pulled this material together, the Sun was born, and planets—including Earth—began to take shape.

However, not all material coalesced into planets. Some remnants became asteroids and comets, orbiting the Sun in different regions.

How NEOs Form

Asteroids are rocky bodies mainly found in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Comets are icy objects that originate in the distant Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud.
Meteor – A small asteroid or fragment that burns up in Earth’s atmosphere.
Meteorite – A meteor that survives and lands on Earth.

Occasionally, gravitational forces push these objects into orbits that bring them near Earth, turning them into NEOs.

Detecting & Tracking NEOs

Scientists use telescopes on Earth and in space to monitor NEOs. Programs like NASA’s Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) track these objects to predict potential impacts.

Some of the key detection projects include:

Pan-STARRS (Hawaii)
Catalina Sky Survey (Arizona, USA)
ATLAS (Hawaii and South Africa)
NEOWISE (a space-based infrared telescope)

For the latest data on NEOs, visit NASA’s NEO Program

How many NEOs have been discovered?

As of 2024, over

30,000

NEOs have been detected.

You can check the latest count on NASA’s website.

Slideshow: A Guide To Near Earth Objects

Click on the slideshow below to see larger images

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NEOs are both a threat and a resource. They have shaped Earth’s past and may hold valuable materials for future space exploration. By studying these objects, we can protect our planet and potentially use them for scientific and economic purposes.

The funding for the Spaceguard Centre comes from the admission fee charged to visitors. In 2002, we received a Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) small award (£1,400) for IT equipment to support the Faulkes Telescope Project. But that is the only external support we have received since opening in 2001. We rely on donations to maintain the building and its equipment. All staff are unpaid volunteers.

We have written a more detailed guide on Near Earth Objects for use by students, journalists, researchers and anyone interested in this fascinating subject. We ask a small amount for this publication which we hope you will find useful. All monies will go directly to the Spaceguard Centre.

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