Near Earth Objects Essay, Research Paper

Near Earth Objects

What are NEOs? Where do they come from? Do they pose any real threat to

Earth? Can they provide viable space resources? All of these questions are now

under investigation by planetary scientist.There are two highly recognized

research programs that I will discuss with you. The Spaceguard program is

sponsored and run by NASA Ames Space Science Division: Asteroid and Comet Impact

Hazard. Also under the direction of Dr. Tom Gehrels the University of Arizona

has the Spacewatch program.

NEOs can be either asteroid or comets. Ninety percent of the

information that I came across discussed asteroids. Therefore, I will

concentrate on asteroids alone. I’m not fully knowledgeable on the subject but

I did learn a great deal.

What are NEOs? The “Webster’s New World Dictionary” states, “Any of the

small planets between Mars and Jupiter”. The “Funk and Wagnalls Encyclopedia

from Infopedia” states, “One of the many small or minor planets that are members

of the solar system and that move in elliptical orbits primarily between the

orbits of Mars and Jupiter”.

Where dot they come from? The NEOs are small objects (