Near-Earth Objects
An NEO's orbit takes it within 1.3 AU of the Sun. The largest known NEO is over 40 km in diameter, but astronomers have found thousands of NEOs with diameters larger than 1 km. Anything smaller is too hard to see.
Hunt the Asteroids
How do we find asteroids?
Make Your Own Impact Crater
Keep Watch on Asteroids
Asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun. Most are located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. This area of our Solar System is known as the Asteroid Belt.
Adriana Ocampo
Early Life
Adriana was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. She grew up in Colombia, Argentina and went to high school in the USA. Adriana loved space. She looked at the stars from the roof of her house and played games where she imagined she was exploring space (her dolls and her pet dog were her fellow astronauts!). Adriana’s parents encouraged her passion and she joined a scout troop that was sponsored by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). From there, she got a volunteering position and then a summer job at JPL.
Year born: 1955
Research Areas: Meteorite Craters, Planets, Moons
"When thinking about the great adventure that you have ahead, dream and never give-up, be persistent and always be true to your heart."
Edward Ching-Te Chao
Credit: ZZZ
Occupation: Geologist
Year born: 1919
Research Areas: Meteorite impacts
"People don't believe, but you do your hard work. It takes time to gradually convince them. You always have to find new, better evidence."
Ursula Marvin
Occupation: Planetary Geologist
Year born: 1921
Research Areas: Meteorites, Moon Rocks