Answer :

An object must have a MOID of 0.05 AU or less in order to be considered a potentially hazardous object. This distance is equivalent to 4.65 million miles. Objects with a MOID between 0.05 and 0.25 AU are considered Near Earth Objects and could potentially become potentially hazardous object (PHOs) in the future.

A potentially hazardous object (PHO) is an asteroid or comet that has an orbital path that comes close enough to Earth to pose an impact hazard. The minimum distance that an object must be from Earth to be considered a PHO is defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The IAU defines a PHO as an object whose Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID) with Earth's orbit is 0.05 AU or less.

In astronomical units (AU), the minimum distance for an object to be considered a PHO is 0.05 AU. An AU is equivalent to the average distance from Earth to the Sun, or about 93 million miles. Therefore, the minimum distance for an object to be considered a PHO is about 4.65 million miles.

The MOID is the closest approach an object can make to Earth’s orbit. The MOID of an asteroid or comet is calculated based on its orbital elements, such as its semi-major axis and eccentricity. An object with a MOID of 0.05 AU or less is considered to have a close enough approach to Earth’s orbit to pose an impact hazard.

The IAU also defines an object as a “Near Earth Object” (NEO) if its MOID is between 0.05 and 0.25 AU. NEOs are objects that could potentially come close enough to Earth to cause an impact hazard, but are not considered to be PHOs because the risk is not as high.

Learn more about International Astronomical Union at :https://brainly.com/question/3250601

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