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Home This chart illustrates how infrared is used to more accurately determine an asteroid’s size. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) This chart illustrates how infrared is used to more accurately determine an asteroid's size. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

This chart illustrates how infrared is used to more accurately determine an asteroid’s size. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

This chart illustrates how infrared is used to more accurately determine an asteroid's size. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

This chart illustrates how infrared is used to more accurately determine an asteroid’s size. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

NEOWISE observations indicate that there are at least 40 percent fewer near-Earth asteroids in total that are larger than 330 feet, or 100 meters. Our solar system’s four inner planets are shown in green, and our sun is in the center. Each red dot represents one asteroid. Object sizes are not to scale. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
As the top of the chart shows, three asteroids of different sizes can look similar when viewed in visible-light. The bottom half of the chart illustrates what an infrared telescope would see when viewing the same three asteroids. Because infrared detectors sense the heat of an object, which is more directly related to its size, the larger rock appears brighter. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
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