What are “Earth crossers” in astronomy?

Asteroids with orbits that pass near Earth’s orbital path are known as Earth crossers.

Here are two examples of Earth crossers:

  • 99942 Apophis: Apophis is a near-Earth asteroid with a diameter of about 370 meters. On April 13, 2029, Apophis will pass within 31,300 kilometers of Earth’s surface, closer than the orbits of geostationary satellites.
  • 753 Cruithne: Cruithne is an asteroid that shares Earth’s orbit around the Sun in a quasi-satellite orbit. 

There are many more known objects with orbits that intersect with Earth’s orbit. Studying Earth crossers is critical for understanding potential impact dangers and building planetary defense plans against asteroid impacts.

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