2023 NT1

2023 NT1 is a near-Earth asteroid, approximately 30 meters in diameter, that passed within 1/4 lunar distances on July 13, 2023.

It was not discovered until 2 days after closest approach due to coming from the daylight direction.

The asteroid now has a 62-day observation arc, and it is known that it will pass a harmless 1.1 AU from Earth in July 2044. It was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 16 September 2023.

In October 2023, a group of astronomers published a preprint that analysed the circumstances of this near-Earth encounter, and proposed planetary defense measures to mitigate the danger presented by similar future incidents, using hypervelocity kinetic penetrators to reduce the approaching impactor to fragments small enough to disintegrate as they entered the atmosphere.