40 000 near-Earth asteroids discovered!

Paris, France (ESA) Nov 21, 2025

Astronomers recently discovered the 40 000th near-Earth asteroid! These space rocks range from a few metres to a few kilometres in size and are on orbits that bring them relatively close to Earth. Each new discovery is both a reminder of our planet’s vulnerability and a testament to how far the field of planetary defence has advanced in just a few decades.

An asteroid is a rocky leftover f