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NASA’s Eyes on Asteroids is a free, browser-based 3D visualization that lets you inspect near-Earth asteroids and comets, follow their orbits, review close approaches, and see related spacecraft missions. It runs on an internet-connected phone, tablet, or computer without a download.
What NASA’s Eyes on Asteroids shows
NASA’s current public description says the experience covers more than 30,000 asteroids near Earth’s orbit. The page does not date that figure, so it should be treated as NASA’s current on-page description rather than a dated census.
- Three-dimensional views of asteroid and comet orbits
- Close-approach information, including the next five closest approaches shown by NASA
- Object profiles and orbital-motion controls
- Spacecraft mission events and educational stories about close approaches and potentially hazardous objects
The 2021 NASA/JPL launch announcement specifically described exploring encounters involving the OSIRIS-REx sample-collection event and NASA’s DART impact on Dimorphos. Those examples document features highlighted at launch; NASA may change the presentation over time.
How to use it
- Open NASA’s Eyes on Asteroids experience in a modern web browser on an internet-connected phone, tablet, or computer.
- Select an asteroid, comet, close approach, or mission event to open its profile and three-dimensional view.
- Use the time slider to move backward or forward through the modeled orbital motion.
- Inspect the listed close approaches and compare the object’s path with Earth’s orbit instead of relying on a headline alone.
- Open mission or story items for context on spacecraft encounters and planetary-defense activities.
No specialized purchase is required. NASA’s education listing classifies the activity as free and identifies audiences from K–5 through grades 9–12 and beyond.
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Where the orbital data comes from
NASA/JPL says the visualization uses data from the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). CNEOS computes high-precision orbits for near-Earth objects in support of NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office. That provenance matters: the display is built from an established NASA/JPL orbit-computation system rather than being a fictional space simulator.
What “close approach” does—and does not—mean
An object appearing on a close-approach list is not, by itself, evidence that it will hit Earth. A close approach means the object’s calculated trajectory brings it relatively near Earth compared with its normal orbit; it does not automatically indicate an impact probability.
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Jason Craig, technical producer of JPL’s Visualization Technology Applications and Development team, explained the purpose of the visual perspective in NASA/JPL’s 2021 announcement: “The headlines often depict these close approaches as ‘dangerously’ close, but users will see by using Eyes just how distant most of these encounters really are.” Use the app to examine distance and timing, then consult NASA planetary-defense information for formal risk assessment.
How the published counts differ
| Figure | What it represents | Date qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Over 30,000 | Asteroids near Earth’s orbit described on NASA’s current Eyes on Asteroids page | The page does not state a publication date |
| About 28,000 | Known near-Earth objects cited in NASA/JPL’s launch article | Historical baseline published in 2021; not a current total |
| Twice-daily updates | Update cadence described in the 2021 launch article | Historical statement; a present-day cadence is not established here |
The different totals can reflect growth in the catalog, different page snapshots, or both. They should not be read as simultaneous measurements.
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Why it is useful for learning and news context
The 3D view turns an abstract orbit diagram into something you can manipulate: you can change the date, watch relative motion, and inspect where a spacecraft event fits into an object’s path. That makes it useful for classroom demonstrations, family exploration, and checking what a news report means by “near.”
NASA/JPL’s Craig summarized the design goal this way: “We wanted Eyes on Asteroids to be as user-friendly as possible while telling the stories about humanity’s exploration of these fascinating objects.”
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Limits to keep in mind
- The experience is a visualization, not a substitute for an official impact-risk assessment.
- The 30,000-plus figure is undated on NASA’s current page, and the 2021 update cadence should not be assumed to remain unchanged.
- Orbit displays and event examples can be revised as NASA updates the underlying catalog and interface.
- Viewing the app requires an internet connection, even though no download is needed.
The Bottom Line
For a free, no-download way to understand near-Earth objects, NASA’s Eyes on Asteroids combines CNEOS-based orbital data with an interactive 3D timeline. Its strongest use is visual context: a listed close approach deserves attention, but it is not automatically an impact threat.
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