As many as 6,200 potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) are orbiting close to Earth, a new survey by Nasa has revealed.
The PHAs are considered robust enough to survive the passage through Earth's atmosphere. If they were to collide with Earth they could cause damage on a large scale, experts warn.
Positions of a simulated population of PHAs are shown in bright orange and Earth's orbit in green. Photo: NasaIn the most detailed study of PHAs yet researchers used infrared scans from Nasa’s 16-inch WISE telescope to identify 4,700 asteroids – plus or minus 1500 – that come within five million miles of Earth’s orbit.
An image released by Nasa shows the distribution of the PHAs - with every orange dot representing an asteroid measuring 330 feet (100 metres) or more that is in orbit.
Only 20% to 30% of these objects have previously been charted.
Although there is no cause for immediate alarm, Nasa said the information could prepare us for future disasters.
Lindley Johnson, programme scientist for the Near-Earth Object Observation said: “The NEOWISE analysis shows us we've made a good start at finding those objects that truly represent an impact hazard to Earth.
“But we've many more to find, and it will take a concerted effort during the next couple of decades to find all of them that could do serious damage or be a mission destination in the future.”
[Related link: Time-lapse footage shows how the Earth looks from space]
Amy Mainzer, NEOWISE principal investigator, at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California added: “It turned out to be a huge bonus.
“Everything we can learn about these objects helps us understand their origins and fate. Our team was surprised to find the overabundance of low-inclination PHAs.
“Because they will tend to make more close approaches to Earth, these targets can provide the best opportunities for the next generation of human and robotic exploration.”
