NEAR Road to Eros
NEAR Road to Eros
NEAR Shoemaker Path
NEAR Shoemaker Path
First NEAR image of Mathilde
First NEAR image of Mathilde
NEAR Approach to Eros
NEAR Approach to Eros
Location of the NEAR Shoemaker Landing Site
Location of the NEAR Shoemaker Landing Site
Landmarks at NEAR Shoemaker Touchdown Site
Landmarks at NEAR Shoemaker Touchdown Site
NEAR: From Planning to Data Analysis
NEAR: From Planning to Data Analysis
Artist rendering of the the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous NEAR spacecraft rendezvous with the asteroid Eros.
NASA NEAR Spacecraft Rendezvous with Asteroid Eros Artist Concept
Topographic Profiles from the NEAR Laser Rangefinder
Topographic Profiles from the NEAR Laser Rangefinder
NEAR Approach to Eros - 12 Panel Rotation Sequence
NEAR Approach to Eros - 12 Panel Rotation Sequence
NEAR First Whole-Eros Mosaic from Orbit
NEAR First Whole-Eros Mosaic from Orbit
NEAR Historic First Image from Eros Orbit
NEAR Historic First Image from Eros Orbit
Near the Ringplane
Near the Ringplane
Saturn from Far and Near
Saturn from Far and Near
Dike near Auqakuh
Dike near Auqakuh
Atmospheric Detail in the Near Infrared
Atmospheric Detail in the Near Infrared
Exhumed Craters near Kaiser
Exhumed Craters near Kaiser
Valley Near Moreux
Valley Near Moreux
Channel Near Olympus
Channel Near Olympus
Pits Near Rhabon Valles
Pits Near Rhabon Valles
Valley Near Phlegra Dorsa
Valley Near Phlegra Dorsa
Layers Near Juventae Chasma
Layers Near Juventae Chasma
Valley near Olympus
Valley near Olympus
Martian terrain near Pathfinder
Martian terrain near Pathfinder
Trio Near the Rings
Trio Near the Rings
Near Endurance on Sol 115
Near Endurance on Sol 115
Volcano Near Pavonis Mons
Volcano Near Pavonis Mons
Wind Streaks Near Schiaparelli
Wind Streaks Near Schiaparelli
Crater Cluster Near Pathfinder
Crater Cluster Near Pathfinder
Troughs Near Ascraeus
Troughs Near Ascraeus
Buttes near Meridiani
Buttes near Meridiani
Cosmic Rays Near Mercury
Cosmic Rays Near Mercury
Big Spherules near Victoria
Big Spherules near Victoria
Valley near Cydonia
Valley near Cydonia
Polygons near Lyot Crater
Polygons near Lyot Crater
Near-Terminator Image of Europa
Near-Terminator Image of Europa
Sunlight Near the North Pole
Sunlight Near the North Pole
Rock Outcrops near Hellas
Rock Outcrops near Hellas
Trough Near Stygis Catena
Trough Near Stygis Catena
Dust Devils Near Schiaparelli
Dust Devils Near Schiaparelli
Clouds Near Icaria Planum
Clouds Near Icaria Planum
Valley Near Nilus Chaos
Valley Near Nilus Chaos
Sedimentary Rock Near Coprates
Sedimentary Rock Near Coprates
Terrain Near Gordii Dorsum
Terrain Near Gordii Dorsum
Bright Soil Near McCool
Bright Soil Near McCool
Layers Near South Crater
Layers Near South Crater
Valley near Ceraunius
Valley near Ceraunius
Near-Earth objects (NEOs) are asteroids and comets that orbit the Sun like the planets with orbits that come within 30 million miles of Earth’s orbit. NASA established the Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) to manage the agency’s ongoing efforts in Planetary Defense, which is the “applied planetary science” to address the NEO impact hazard. One key element of the PDCO is NASA’s NEO Observations program, which is composed of projects to find, track, and characterize NEOs. Here’s what we’ve found so far. This page is updated monthly with the most up-to-date numbers.
Near-Earth Asteroids: July 2023
NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) SAIL TEAM PERFORMING A DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLIGHT-LIKE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT UNIT SOLAR SAIL. THE SAIL WAS MANUFACTURED AT NEXOLVE (HSV, AL) AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MSFC ON AUGUST 4TH, 2016
NEAR EARTH ASTERIOD SCOUT SOLAR SAIL
NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) SAIL TEAM PERFORMING A DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLIGHT-LIKE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT UNIT SOLAR SAIL. THE SAIL WAS MANUFACTURED AT NEXOLVE (HSV, AL) AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MSFC ON AUGUST 4TH, 2016
NEAR EARTH ASTERIOD SCOUT SOLAR SAIL
NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) SAIL TEAM PERFORMING A DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLIGHT-LIKE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT UNIT SOLAR SAIL. THE SAIL WAS MANUFACTURED AT NEXOLVE (HSV, AL) AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MSFC ON AUGUST 4TH, 2016
NEAR EARTH ASTERIOD SCOUT SOLAR SAIL
NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) SAIL TEAM PERFORMING A DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLIGHT-LIKE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT UNIT SOLAR SAIL. THE SAIL WAS MANUFACTURED AT NEXOLVE (HSV, AL) AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MSFC ON AUGUST 4TH, 2016
NEAR EARTH ASTERIOD SCOUT SOLAR SAIL
NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) SAIL TEAM PERFORMING A DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLIGHT-LIKE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT UNIT SOLAR SAIL. THE SAIL WAS MANUFACTURED AT NEXOLVE (HSV, AL) AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MSFC ON AUGUST 4TH, 2016
NEAR EARTH ASTERIOD SCOUT SOLAR SAIL
NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) SAIL TEAM PERFORMING A DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLIGHT-LIKE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT UNIT SOLAR SAIL. THE SAIL WAS MANUFACTURED AT NEXOLVE (HSV, AL) AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MSFC ON AUGUST 4TH, 2016
NEAR EARTH ASTERIOD SCOUT SOLAR SAIL
NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) SAIL TEAM PERFORMING A DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLIGHT-LIKE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT UNIT SOLAR SAIL. THE SAIL WAS MANUFACTURED AT NEXOLVE (HSV, AL) AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MSFC ON AUGUST 4TH, 2016
NEAR EARTH ASTERIOD SCOUT SOLAR SAIL
NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) SAIL TEAM PERFORMING A DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLIGHT-LIKE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT UNIT SOLAR SAIL. THE SAIL WAS MANUFACTURED AT NEXOLVE (HSV, AL) AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MSFC ON AUGUST 4TH, 2016
NEAR EARTH ASTERIOD SCOUT SOLAR SAIL
NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) SAIL TEAM PERFORMING A DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLIGHT-LIKE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT UNIT SOLAR SAIL. THE SAIL WAS MANUFACTURED AT NEXOLVE (HSV, AL) AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MSFC ON AUGUST 4TH, 2016
NEAR EARTH ASTERIOD SCOUT SOLAR SAIL
NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) SAIL TEAM PERFORMING A DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLIGHT-LIKE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT UNIT SOLAR SAIL. THE SAIL WAS MANUFACTURED AT NEXOLVE (HSV, AL) AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MSFC ON AUGUST 4TH, 2016
NEAR EARTH ASTERIOD SCOUT SOLAR SAIL
NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) SAIL TEAM PERFORMING A DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLIGHT-LIKE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT UNIT SOLAR SAIL. THE SAIL WAS MANUFACTURED AT NEXOLVE (HSV, AL) AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MSFC ON AUGUST 4TH, 2016
NEAR EARTH ASTERIOD SCOUT SOLAR SAIL
NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) SAIL TEAM PERFORMING A DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLIGHT-LIKE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT UNIT SOLAR SAIL. THE SAIL WAS MANUFACTURED AT NEXOLVE (HSV, AL) AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MSFC ON AUGUST 4TH, 2016
NEAR EARTH ASTERIOD SCOUT SOLAR SAIL
NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) SAIL TEAM PERFORMING A DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLIGHT-LIKE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT UNIT SOLAR SAIL. THE SAIL WAS MANUFACTURED AT NEXOLVE (HSV, AL) AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MSFC ON AUGUST 4TH, 2016
NEAR EARTH ASTERIOD SCOUT SOLAR SAIL
NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) SAIL TEAM PERFORMING A DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLIGHT-LIKE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT UNIT SOLAR SAIL. THE SAIL WAS MANUFACTURED AT NEXOLVE (HSV, AL) AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MSFC ON AUGUST 4TH, 2016
NEAR EARTH ASTERIOD SCOUT SOLAR SAIL
NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) SAIL TEAM PERFORMING A DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLIGHT-LIKE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT UNIT SOLAR SAIL. THE SAIL WAS MANUFACTURED AT NEXOLVE (HSV, AL) AND DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MSFC ON AUGUST 4TH, 2016
NEAR EARTH ASTERIOD SCOUT SOLAR SAIL
NASA image acquired July 17, 2011  In mid-July 2011, more than a month after the Missouri River broke through two levees and flooded fields near Hamburg, Iowa, muddy water lingered near the city. Hamburg residents were relieved, however, that a newly built levee had spared the town from flooding.  On July 17, 2011, the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite captured this natural-color image. Compared to an image acquired on June 24, flooding has apparently receded slightly in some areas. Sediment-choked water nevertheless lingers on large swaths of land.  On July 13, 2011, KETV of Omaha, Nebraska, reported that a newly built, 2-mile levee designed to protect Hamburg already exceeded federal standards. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers handed control of the levee over to city officials on July 12. In the end, the levee was expected to cost the Army Corps $6 million, and the city of Hamburg about $800,000.  On July 18, 2011, the Advanced Hydrological Prediction Service reported moderate flooding along the Missouri River not far from Hamburg, Iowa. In the northwest, the river reached 24.37 feet (7.43 meters) at Nebraska City. In the southeast, the river reached 38.98 feet (11.88 meters) at Brownville, Nebraska.  NASA Earth Observatory image created by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, using EO-1 ALI data provided courtesy of the NASA EO-1 team. Caption by Michon Scott.  Instrument:  EO-1 - ALI    Credit: <b><a href="http://www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov/" rel="nofollow"> NASA Earth Observatory</a></b>  <b><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/home/index.html" rel="nofollow">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a></b> enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.  <b>Follow us on <a href="http://twitter.com/NASA_GoddardPix" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a></b>  <b>Like us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Greenbelt-MD/NASA-Goddard/395013845897?ref=tsd" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a></b>  <b>Find us on <a href="http://web.stagram.com/n/nasagoddard/?vm=grid" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a></b>
Flooding near Hamburg, Iowa
Cratered Cones near Hephaestus Fossae
Cratered Cones near Hephaestus Fossae
Bright Ridge near Mons Hansteen
Bright Ridge near Mons Hansteen
Sinuous Ridges Near Aeolis Mensae
Sinuous Ridges Near Aeolis Mensae
The Distribution of Planetary Ions near Mercury
The Distribution of Planetary Ions near Mercury
Gullies in Trough near Gorgonum Chaos
Gullies in Trough near Gorgonum Chaos
DCS Color near Mare Cimmerium
DCS Color near Mare Cimmerium
Craters Near the South Pole of Callisto
Craters Near the South Pole of Callisto
MLA Reflectivity near the North Pole
MLA Reflectivity near the North Pole
Lava Flows near Pavonis Mons
Lava Flows near Pavonis Mons
Rock Interior Exposed Near Endurance
Rock Interior Exposed Near Endurance
Dissected Terrain Near Parana Valles
Dissected Terrain Near Parana Valles
Metal Spring near Phoenix Footpad
Metal Spring near Phoenix Footpad
Distributory Fan Near Holden Crater
Distributory Fan Near Holden Crater
Decorrelation Stretch Near Cerberus Fossae
Decorrelation Stretch Near Cerberus Fossae
Slope Failure near Aratus Crater
Slope Failure near Aratus Crater
Bouldery Crater near Mare Australe
Bouldery Crater near Mare Australe
Sources of Volcanic Plumes Near Prometheus
Sources of Volcanic Plumes Near Prometheus
Dust Mantle Near Pavonis Mons
Dust Mantle Near Pavonis Mons
Layered Rocks Near Mawrth Vallis
Layered Rocks Near Mawrth Vallis
Layered Terrain near Mawrth Valles
Layered Terrain near Mawrth Valles
Spectrometer Observations Near Mawrth Vallis
Spectrometer Observations Near Mawrth Vallis
Pandora and Prometheus Near F Ring
Pandora and Prometheus Near F Ring
This image from NASA NEAR Shoemaker is of processed data showing Eros from slightly different perspectives is combined as anaglyphs or stereo pairs. 3D glasses are necessary to view this image.
Eros Global Morphology
62 miles above Eros, NASA NEAR Shoemaker took several frames which were combined to create this anaglyph of the saddle region, 3D glasses are necessary to view this image.
The Saddle in 3-D
Stereo imaging, an important tool on NASA NEAR Shoemaker for geologic analysis of Eros, provides three-dimensional information on the asteroid landforms and structures. 3D glasses are necessary to view this image.
Eros in Stereo
NEA (Near Earth Asteroid) Scout Solar Sail, deployed, with team members: Alex Sobey, Andy Heaton, Olive Stohlmann, Leslie McNutt, Tiffany Russell Lockett, Roy Young, Les Johnson, Kevin Sykes, Tom Bryan
Near Earth Asteroid Scout Solar Sail
The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft embarks on a journey that will culminate in a close encounter with an asteroid. The launch of NEAR inaugurates NASA's irnovative Discovery program of small-scale planetary missions with rapid, lower-cost development cycles and focused science objectives. NEAR will rendezvous in 1999 with the asteroid 433 Eros to begin the first long-term, close-up look at an asteroid's surface composition and physical properties. NEAR's science payload includes an x-ray/gamma ray spectrometer, an near-infrared spectrograph, a laser rangefinder, a magnetometer, a radio science experiment and a multi-spectral imager.
Earth Science
Spirit Nears North-Tilting Site for Winter Haven
Spirit Nears North-Tilting Site for Winter Haven
Maximum Surface Temperature near the North Pole
Maximum Surface Temperature near the North Pole
Mid-Winter Dust Storms Near Hellas Planitia
Mid-Winter Dust Storms Near Hellas Planitia
Western Candor Chasma - Layers Exposed near the Middle
Western Candor Chasma - Layers Exposed near the Middle
Radial Ridge in Deposit Near Pavonis Mons
Radial Ridge in Deposit Near Pavonis Mons
Wind-Eroded Terrain near Olympus Mons
Wind-Eroded Terrain near Olympus Mons
Valleys and Lava Flows near Olympus Mons
Valleys and Lava Flows near Olympus Mons
Diversity of Soils near Rover Deploy Region
Diversity of Soils near Rover Deploy Region
Small Valley Network Near Schiaparelli Crater
Small Valley Network Near Schiaparelli Crater