Neowise

NEOWISE, short for Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, is a NASA infrared space telescope mission tasked with detecting and characterizing near-Earth objects such as asteroids and comets. It is a repurposed continuation of the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission. WISE launched in 2009 and surveyed the sky in infrared; after its cryogen was depleted in 2010–2011, the spacecraft was placed in hibernation and later reactivated in 2013 as NEOWISE to focus on near-Earth objects.

During the NEOWISE phase, the two shortest-wavelength infrared channels (approximately 3.4 and 4.6 microns) remained operational, while the longer-wavelength channels were not. This configuration enabled efficient detection of moving point sources against the fixed star field and provided measurements of thermal emission from small bodies. NEOWISE uses the same 40-centimeter telescope and scanning approach as its predecessor, conducting an all-sky survey that yields repeated observations over time.

The mission contributes to the discovery and characterization of NEOs by measuring infrared flux, which helps estimate object sizes and albedos when combined with optical data. It has produced a large dataset of near-Earth objects and other small bodies, supporting NASA’s efforts to assess impact hazards and understand the composition and distribution of objects in the inner Solar System. Data from NEOWISE are publicly released and continue to inform both research and planetary defense initiatives.