NASA Warns: 15,000 "City-Killer" Asteroids Remain Undetected
Thousands of dangerous asteroids remain undiscovered, posing a regional threat.
Top Summary
- What happened: NASA warns that roughly 15,000 mid-sized, near-Earth asteroids (at least 140 meters wide) are yet to be identified.
- Why it matters: An impact from one of these undetected “city-killer” asteroids could cause significant regional devastation.
- What changes for people: Highlights the need for increased investment in planetary defense and asteroid detection programs.
- Who is affected: Populated regions globally are at risk, and scientists are working to improve tracking efforts.
The Unknown Threat from Space
NASA's head of planetary defense, Dr. Kelly Fast, revealed that about 15,000 mid-sized near-Earth objects remain undetected. These asteroids, at least 140 meters wide, pose a significant threat.
According to Dr. Fast, these “city-killer” asteroids could cause substantial regional damage if they were to impact a populated area.
Limited Deflection Capabilities
Dr. Nancy Chabot of Johns Hopkins University, who led the DART mission, cautioned that no spacecraft is currently ready to launch and deflect a threatening asteroid.
“Dart was a great demonstration. But we don’t have [another] sitting around ready to go if there was a threat that we needed to use it for,” Chabot said.
Despite the success of DART, no immediate solution exists to actively deflect a newly discovered asteroid on a collision course with Earth.
Gaps in Detection Efforts
Only about 40% of near-Earth objects larger than 140 meters have been identified so far.
The late detection of asteroid YR4, roughly the size of a football pitch, after it passed Earth on Christmas Day 2024, highlighted these gaps.
Future Detection Efforts
NASA’s upcoming Near-Earth Object Surveyor space telescope, expected to launch next year, aims to significantly improve asteroid detection.
This telescope will play a crucial role in identifying and tracking potentially hazardous near-Earth objects.
What to Watch Next
The launch of NASA's Near-Earth Object Surveyor space telescope will be critical in improving asteroid detection rates. Continued investment in planetary defense is essential to prepare for potential future threats from undetected asteroids.