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Asteroid Vigil: Tracking Cosmic Threats
This chapter explores NASA's initiatives to monitor and manage near-Earth asteroids, detailing their success in identifying approximately 35,000 of these celestial entities. It underscores the critical need for a global asteroid warning system, especially in light of the Chelyabinsk meteor event, while highlighting collaborative efforts between astronomers to track and name these bodies. The discussion extends to the historical and cultural significance of naming asteroids, revealing how mythology and tradition influence this scientific process.