NEA 2023 DZ2 spectro-photometry

Early physical characterization of a would-be impactor may help in optimizing impact mitigation plans. We first detected NEA 2023 DZ2 on 27 February 2023.

After that, it was found to have a minimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) with Earth of 0.00005au as well as an unusually high initial probability of becoming a near-term (in 2026) impactor. We perform a rapid but consistent dynamical and physical characterization of 2023 DZ2 as an example of a key response to mitigating the consequences of a potential impact. We used a multi-pronged approach, drawing from various methods (observational-computational) and techniques (spectroscopy-photometry from multiple instruments), and bringing the data together to perform a rapid and robust threat assessment.