Each asteroid followed by NASA in the last 20 years

It might seem that more asteroids are clearing their way through our solar system. In recent months, many space rocks have flown over our planet – and some have even had an impact.

But in reality, astronomers have vastly improved the tracking of asteroids, as a new NASA video (above) The Space Agency has released a simulation of all the asteroids recorded with CNEOS since 39; he began tracking space rocks as the Earth-Near-Earth Objects Observatory Program in 1998. Described as turning points in our solar system, you can see the number of space rocks in the world. improve over decades as tracking technology improves

"We calculate high precision orbits for all asteroids and comets." Paul Chodas, director of CNEOS, said in a statement 39, agency

that the program of observations of objects close to the Earth was launched.To respond to a request from Congress, to track and record 90% of all asteroids and comets of more than two-thirds of 39, a mile, whose orbit draws them into the internal solar system, in a decade. The program was renamed CNEOS in 2016.

The launch of the program followed a media frenzy spurred by a half-mile-wide asteroid called 1997 XF11, reported NASA. Shortly after astronomers spotted the asteroid, they warned the scientific community that there could be a collision with the Earth.

Other astronomers first agreed, fearing that there is a minimal risk that the rock bursts in 2028 News agencies ran with the story and spread a ominous message of woe, the Washington Post reported last year.

Other calculations showed that the Earth was safe, but the saga emphasized the need for better tracking of asteroids and clearer public communication.

"To this day, we still receive questions about the chances of XF11's impact in 2028," said Chodas. "There is no chance that XF11 will affect our planet this year, or for the next 200 years.

Although the XF11 is not dangerous, other asteroids have caused massive destruction on Earth An asteroid that measured about 70 feet across thousands of damaged buildings after entering the skies above the Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, as a meteor in 2013. A shock wave of the The impact destroyed almost 1,500 wounds

so dangerous asteroids are crucial for planetary protection.The first astronomers spot an asteroid, the sooner they can work to fix it.Last month, NASA announced a five-goal strategy to improve earth's rock defenses.

Although astronomers detect far more asteroids than they were in 1998, the technology is still p Just this month, two small asteroids buzzed the earth without being detected, but they were spotted after flying over our planet.

NASA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.