<p>Yes, Near Earth Objects (NEOs) include asteroids (Near Earth Asteroids (NEAs)) and a few percent of comets (Near Earth Comets (NECs)). As shown by the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/2017_neo_sdt_final_e-version.pdf" rel="noreferrer">Update to Determine the Feasibility of Enhancing the Search and Characterization of NEOs (NEO SDT Report)</a> in Section 2.3, the risk from Near Earth Comets is about 1% that of asteroids. So "NEO" tends to be assumed to mean "asteroid" unless otherwise stated.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-20T15:19:28.423Z
2020-02-20T15:19:28.423Z
astrosnapper
<p>My "real question" is in Space Exploration Meta (<a href="https://space.meta.stackexchange.com/q/1459/12102">neo (near-earth-object) and near-earth-asteroid tags, do we need both?</a>), but I think that astronomers will be able to help understand the situation and terminology.</p>

<p><strong>Question:</strong> Is there a distinction between NEOs and near-Earth asteroids? Is there a difference? Or is it a distinction without a difference?</p>

<p>I noticed for example that here in Astronomy SE there is just <a href="/questions/tagged/near-earth-object" class="post-tag" title="show questions tagged &#39;near-earth-object&#39;" rel="tag">near-earth-object</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-20T14:05:39.000Z
This University of Iowa Department of Physics and Astronomy site seems to indicate all near earth asteroids are NEOs: http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/ITU/labs/professional-labs/introduction-to-impact/. Does that sufficiently address your question?
called2voyage
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-20T14:06:31.180Z
A more clear-cut example: http://icarus.astro.umd.edu/features/whatrneos.shtml
called2voyage
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-20T15:33:17.617Z
@called2voyage yes it does, very nicely thanks!
uhoh
<terminology><near-earth-object>
Is there a distinction between NEOs and near-Earth asteroids? Is there a difference?
uhoh
# Is there a distinction between NEOs and near-Earth asteroids? Is there a difference?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-02-20)

My "real question" is in Space Exploration Meta ([neo (near-earth-object) and near-earth-asteroid tags, do we need both?](https://space.meta.stackexchange.com/q/1459/12102)), but I think that astronomers will be able to help understand the situation and terminology.

**Question:** Is there a distinction between NEOs and near-Earth asteroids? Is there a difference? Or is it a distinction without a difference?

I noticed for example that here in Astronomy SE there is just [near-earth-object](/questions/tagged/near-earth-object "show questions tagged 'near-earth-object'").

**Tags:** terminology, near-earth-object

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This University of Iowa Department of Physics and Astronomy site seems to indicate all near earth asteroids are NEOs: http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/ITU/labs/professional-labs/introduction-to-impact/. Does that sufficiently address your question?  
> **username_1**: A more clear-cut example: http://icarus.astro.umd.edu/features/whatrneos.shtml  
> **username_0**: @username_1 yes it does, very nicely thanks!  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-02-20. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

Yes, Near Earth Objects (NEOs) include asteroids (Near Earth Asteroids (NEAs)) and a few percent of comets (Near Earth Comets (NECs)). As shown by the [Update to Determine the Feasibility of Enhancing the Search and Characterization of NEOs (NEO SDT Report)](https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/2017_neo_sdt_final_e-version.pdf) in Section 2.3, the risk from Near Earth Comets is about 1% that of asteroids. So "NEO" tends to be assumed to mean "asteroid" unless otherwise stated.


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