Potentially hazardous object

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/potentially-hazardous-object

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Potentially hazardous object?Absolute magnitude of 22 or brighter, approximately > 140 meters in diameter
2. What is the orbital intersection criterion?Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID) with Earth < 0.05 AU
3. What is the dominant object type?Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) constitute the vast majority of known PHOs
4. Why do scientists keep watching these space rocks?Because their paths can change over time, and even a small chance of impact can be dangerous. NASA’s Sentry Risk Table tracks objects that might hit Earth in the next century, and scientists use new data to keep the predictions accurate.
5. Can a comet be a potentially hazardous object?Yes, a few comets are considered potentially hazardous. They can be harder to predict because they sometimes puff up and change direction.

Absolute Magnitude (H): A measure of the intrinsic brightness of a celestial body, independent of its distance from the observer.
Orbital Perturbation: Changes in an object's orbit caused by the gravitational influence of other celestial bodies.
Planetary Defense: The field of science dedicated to detecting and mitigating the threat posed by near-Earth objects impacting Earth.