NEAR-EARTH OBJECT CATEGORIES



AMORs have perihelions (closest approach to the Sun) of between 1 and

1.3 astronomical units (AU). AMORs approach within 0.3 AU of the Earth

but do not cross the Earth's orbit.



APOLLOs cross the Earth's orbit and have semi-major axes larger than 1 AU.



ATENs have semi-major axes less than 1 AU. All known ATENS cross the Earth's orbit.



OTHER UNUSUAL OBJECTS are neither NEAs nor Main-Belt Asteroids but have unusual eccentricities or inclinations.



POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS MINOR PLANETS are asteroids larger than 110 m whose orbits approach close to the Earth.