* We're usually aware of any potentially hazardous space objects long before they get close to our planet.<p>* Asteroid 2023 NT1 was different, though, as it traveled toward us from the sun and thus was hidden by the star's glare.<p>* In an attempt to avoid future situations like these, the European Space Agency (ESA) has planned a project called NEOMIR. The mission will orbit between the Earth and Sun around the first Lagrange point (L1), giving the telescope a view of asteroids that may come toward the Earth from the direction of the Sun.<p>* Unfortunately, it's not set to launch until 2030.
"Near Miss"; ie. near hit.<p>But that sounds scary, so we say "near miss". Or maybe they mean "it almost got us - it was near, but it missed!"
The dinosaurs didn't bother investing into a good space program with the ability to detect and divert asteroids, and look where their hubris and shortsightedness got them.<p>Maybe humans will do better, but I'm not so sure.