NASA WISE Space Telescope Finds Fewer Asteroids Near Earth

Posted on October 1, 2011

New observations by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) indicate there are much fewer near-Earth asteroids in the mid-size range than previously thought. The old model found 36,000 mid-size ranged asteroids.

The new data indicates there are 20,500. WISE data also indicates 93% of asteroids 3,300 feet (1 kilometer) and larger have been found. These large asteroids are about the size of a small mountain and would have global consequences if they were to strike Earth. NASA says there are 981 of these large asteroids and 911 have been found. NASA says none of them represents a threat to Earth in the next few centuries. Take a look:

SPACE
ASTEROIDS