Planetary Defense Use of the SPHEREx Solar System Object Catalog

Abstract: The upcoming NASA SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) all-sky 0.7 to 5.0 um spectral survey, to be conducted from 2025 to 2027, provides a unique space-based opportunity to detect, spectrally categorize, and catalog hundreds of thousands of solar system objects at WISE/NEOWISE sensitivities. This paper discusses the unique near-infrared capabilities of SPHEREx, its potential applications in Planetary Defense, (PD), and the implications for risk mitigation associated with Potentially Hazardous Objects (PHOs). By leveraging SPHEREx data, scientists and decision-makers can enhance our ability to track and characterize PHOs, ultimately contributing to the protection of our planet.