Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking & Planetary Defense Observatory
Orbital Eye Asteroids Command maps the three-dimensional trajectories of over 2,200 Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs), Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs), and Main Belt minor planets. Orbital parameters are ingested from NASA JPL Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) Small-Body Database and computed using Keplerian mechanics.
Scientific Distinction: Close Approach vs. Predicted Impact
A close approach is an astronomical event where an asteroid passes within a defined nominal distance from Earth (commonly within 0.05 Astronomical Units / ~19.5 Lunar Distances / 7.5 million kilometers). Close approaches are routine geometric passages governed by gravity and do not imply an impact. A predicted impact would require orbital uncertainty ellipsoids to intersect Earth's physical cross-section, monitored continuously by NASA's Sentry automated collision assessment system. No known major asteroid poses a significant impact threat over the next 100 years.
Tracked Orbital Classes & Notable Targets
- Atira Asteroids: Orbits contained entirely within Earth's perihelion.
- Aten Asteroids: Earth-crossing orbits with semi-major axes less than 1.0 AU.
- Apollo Asteroids: Earth-crossing orbits with semi-major axes greater than 1.0 AU (e.g. 101955 Bennu, 99942 Apophis).
- Amor Asteroids: Earth-approaching orbits external to Earth's orbit (e.g. 433 Eros).