NASA Data 2023-2024

This dataset offers a comprehensive look into near-Earth objects (NEOs) such as asteroids and comets, which have made close approaches to Earth between January 1, 2023, and September 25, 2024. The data, gathered by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), includes critical details like approach distances, velocities, object sizes, and various orbital properties. Each entry in the dataset is uniquely identified by fields such as the designation (des), which can be a numeric or provisional identifier, and the orbit ID, which tracks specific orbital calculations for each approach.

The dataset captures key moments of close approaches, with the Julian Date (jd) marking the precise astronomical time of the closest approach and the calendar date (cd) offering the same information in a readable format. Additionally, it provides nominal, minimum, and maximum distances (dist, dist_min, dist_max) of these NEOs from Earth, which are crucial for assessing the risk of impact. These distances are measured in astronomical units (AU), where 1 AU is the average distance from Earth to the Sun (~149.6 million km).

Velocity-related fields, such as relative velocity (v_rel) and velocity at infinity (v_inf), offer insights into how fast these objects are moving as they pass by Earth, which can be critical for understanding the potential danger of an impact. Another important metric, time uncertainty (t_sigma_f), accounts for possible errors in orbit calculations, providing an estimate of how much the actual time of closest approach might vary.

Overall, the dataset serves a variety of purposes. Astrophysicists can use it to study the orbits, dynamics, and gravitational interactions of NEOs. It is also useful for risk assessments of potential Earth impacts, and the data can be visualized for public engagement or scientific communication, such as creating 3D models or close-approach animations. Lastly, space agencies like NASA and ESA can leverage this dataset for planning missions to study or deflect NEOs, helping protect Earth from possible threats.