NASA Dedicated Teams Keep Us Safe from Asteroids

NASA has dedicated teams of experts that are constantly watching the skies to make sure we are safe from hazardous asteroids. Today, one of the closest asteroid flybys ever recorded is taking place, but our Planetary Defense experts have been tracking the asteroid and know it’s not a threat to Earth. The asteroid, named 2020 KT1, is estimated to be between 15-30 meters in diameter and will pass within 4.2 million kilometers of Earth today at about 8 pm EDT (12 am UTC). This distance is roughly 11 times farther away than the Moon. While this may seem like a close call for an asteroid, it’s actually quite far away and poses no risk to us here on Earth. NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) keeps track of all near-Earth objects (NEOs) that could potentially pose a hazard to our planet. They use telescopes around the world as well as space-based observatories such as NEOWISE and WISE (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) to detect NEOs before they come too close for comfort. When an NEO is detected by PDCO, they can then calculate its trajectory and determine if it poses any risk or not. In this case, 2020 KT1 was determined to be harmless because its orbit will take it much farther away from Earth than expected. However, if an NEO were detected that did pose a potential risk, PDCO would work with other organizations such as ESA (European Space Agency) or JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) in order to devise strategies for mitigating any potential danger posed by the object. NASA's dedication to keeping us safe from hazardous asteroids is just one example of their commitment to protecting our planet and ensuring our safety here on Earth. By monitoring these objects closely with state-of-the-art technology and working together with other international agencies when necessary, NASA helps ensure that we can all sleep soundly knowing that we are safe from any possible threats coming from outer space!