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Here's what you need to know
about near-Earth objects.

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Our solar system is littered
with asteroids and comets,

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and sometimes they get
a little close to Earth.

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But no need to worry.

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This happens all the time.

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When an asteroid or comet could
come close to our planet,

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it's known as a near-Earth object,
AKA NEO.

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But how close is "close"?

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A near-Earth object is defined
as an object

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that could pass by our Earth
within 30 million miles!

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NASA begins to keep close watch on objects

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that could pass within 5 million miles
of our planet.

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To put that in perspective,
our Moon is only 238,900 miles away.

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However unlikely an impact is,

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NASA wants to know
about all near-Earth objects.

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The space agency's
Planetary Defense Coordination Office

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maintains watch for asteroids and comets
coming close to Earth

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in order to warn of any potential impacts.

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Along with its partners, they discover,
catalog and characterize these bodies.

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But what if one of these objects
posed a threat?

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We want to be prepared.

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That's why NASA is working on several
deflection techniques and technologies

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to help protect our planet.

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So next time that you hear of an asteroid
passing "close" to Earth,

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know that it's just one of many
that NASA is tracking.

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And that's what you need to know
about near-Earth objects.