Near earth objects

Abstract

A survey of the field of NEOs is given with respect to the present status of detecting NEOs from the ground, the prospects to detect from space, and especially with Gaia. A realistic model of the NEO population with respect to orbits and sizes has been established, and this model has been used to assess the capabilities of various instruments from ground and from space. The contribution of Gaia will be to make an all-sky homogenous survey, including atypical orbits far from the ecliptic and observation when a NEO is close to the direction of the Sun where observation from the ground is difficult.