NEOs are asteroids or comets that come relatively close to the Sun, about 50 million km from Earth’s orbit. Some of them, ‘potentially hazardous objects’ (PHOs), are even closer – in interstellar terms – to a minimum distance of less than 7.5 million kilometers.
With a width of more than 140 meters, PHO is capable of causing regional devastation with possible global consequences.
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Even smaller objects can still cause significant, albeit localized, damage. The object that caused the Tunguska event on June 30, 1908 in Siberia, is believed to be up to 60 meters in diameter.
The Largest asteroid impact event in recorded historyit was chosen in 2017 as a fitting date to celebrate International Asteroid Day.
Even smaller NEOs can be dangerous, damaging buildings and injuring people. On February 15, 2013, a large fireball about 20 meters in diameter disintegrated in the sky over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk.
According to the US Space Administration (NASA), the explosion released energy equivalent to about 440,000 tons of TNT and create a shock wave that blows out windows and even damages buildings. Via 1,600 people were injured in the explosion, mainly due to broken glass.
The majority of such objects originate from the interior of the Solar System’s main asteroid belt. They form under the gravitational influence of Saturn, Jupiter and Mars, and by collisions between larger space bodies.
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UNOOSA, whose experts have followed NEO for years, emphasize that such a global issue deserves a strong international response. Tackling the danger, however, is like a page in a sci-fi playbook, including identifying threats and offering some solutions.
As a result, the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG) was established for global coordination protect the planet.
While IAWN’s mission is to provide Member States with comprehensive communication plans and protocols to help make informed decisions in the event of an asteroid impact, SMPAG acts as an interspace agency’s forum to select technologies needed for NEO deviation and help reach consensus on planetary defense measures.
In practical terms, this means that if there is a credible impact threat, IAWN will issue a warning.
If the object is greater than 50 meters and the impact probability exceeds one percent in the next 50 years, SMPAG will evaluate mitigation options and come up with an implementation plan.
UNOOSA’s ultimate aim is to protect the Earth and humanity from the devastating effects of asteroids and International Asteroid Day over the years developed into a global education campaign to help do that.
If you want to know more about how UNOOSA is working to prevent the Armageddon fantasy from becoming a reality, you can find more details on Near-Earth Objects and Planetary DefensesThis.
