(89959) 2002 NT₇ (also written (89959) 2002 NT7) is a near-Earth object (NEO) that became the first object observed by NASA's NEO program to be assigned a positive rating on the Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale for a potential impact date of February 1, 2019. Despite inflammatory press reports, the object has a "low probability" of impact, approximately one in a million.

Further observations of the object have since re-rated the threat lower. As of July 25, 2002, the hazard rating on the Palermo scale had been lowered to -0.25. However, the discovery of an object with an initial hazard rating above 0.0 is still a significant event in the history of the NEO observation program.

On August 1, 2002, the object was removed from the list of objects that present a threat, at least for the next 100 years.

External link

• BBC Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2147879.stm