nearest

adj. close; close in time; closer; intimate; of the last moment; stingy; left-handed

The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous - Shoemaker (NEAR Shoemaker), renamed after its launch in honor of planetary scientist Eugene M. Shoemaker, is a robotic space probe designed to study the near-Earth asteroid Eros from close orbit over a period of a year. The primary scientific objective of NEAR was to return data on the bulk properties, composition, mineralogy, morphology, internal mass distribution and magnetic field of Eros. Secondary objectives include studies of regolith properties, interactions with the solar wind, possible current activity as indicated by dust or gas, and the asteroid spin state. This data will be used to help understand the characteristics of asteroids in general, their relationship to meteorites and comets, and the conditions in the early solar system. To accomplish these goals, the spacecraft was equipped with an X-ray/gamma ray spectrometer, a near-infrared imaging spectrograph, a multi-spectral camera fitted with a CCD imaging detector, a laser rangefinder, and a magnetometer. A radio science experiment was also performed using the NEAR tracking system to estimate the gravity field of the asteroid. The total mass of the instruments was 56 kg, and they required 81 W power.
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Near may refer to:Near v. MinnesotaNear EastAncient Near EastNear Eastern archaeologyNear-Earth objectNear-Earth asteroidLincoln Near-Earth Asteroid ResearchNEAR Shoemaker, a spacecraftNear Infrared Camera and Multi-Object SpectrometerNear Field CommunicationNear-death experienceNear/Nate River, a character from the anime and manga DEATH NOTENear beerNew England Auto Racers Hall of Fame
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Adjective
1. (superlative of `near' or `nigh') most near
(synonym) nighest
(similar) near, close
(classification) superlative
Adverb
1. (superlative of `near' or `close') within the shortest distance; "that was the time he came nearest to death"
(synonym) nighest, closest
(classification) superlative

Verb
1. move towards; "We were approaching our destination"; "They are drawing near"; "The enemy army came nearer and nearer"
(synonym) approach, come on, go up, draw near, draw close, come near
(hypernym) come, come up
(hyponym) drive up
(entail) advance, progress, pass on, move on, march on, go on
(verb-group) approach, come near
Adjective
1. not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances; "near neighbors"; "in the near future"; "they are near equals"; "his nearest approach to success"; "a very near thing"; "a near hit by the bomb"; "she was near tears"; "she was close to tears"; "had a close call"
(synonym) close
(antonym) far
(similar) adjacent
(attribute) distance
2. being on the left side; "the near or nigh horse is the one on the left"; "the animal's left side is its near or nigh side"
(synonym) near(a), nigh(a)
(similar) left
3. closely resembling the genuine article; "near beer"; "a dress of near satin"
(similar) artificial, unreal
4. giving or spending with reluctance; "our cheeseparing administration"; "very close (or near) with his money"; "a penny-pinching miserly old man"
(synonym) cheeseparing, close, penny-pinching
(similar) stingy, ungenerous
5. with or in a close or intimate relationship; "a good friend"; "my sisters and brothers are near and dear"
(synonym) dear, good
(similar) close
6. very close in resemblance; "sketched in an approximate likeness"; "a near likeness"
(synonym) approximate
(similar) close
Adverb
1. near in time or place or relationship; "as the wedding day drew near"; "stood near the door"; "don't shoot until they come near"; "getting near to the true explanation"; "her mother is always near"; "The end draws nigh"; "the bullet didn't come close"; "don't get too close to the fire"
(synonym) nigh, close
2. (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; `near' is sometimes used informally for `nearly' and `most' is sometimes used informally for `almost'; "the job is (just) about done"; "the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded"; "we're almost finished"; "the car all but ran her down"; "he nearly fainted"; "talked for nigh onto 2 hours"; "the recording is well-nigh perfect"; "virtually all the parties signed the contract"; "I was near exhausted by the run"; "most everyone agrees"
(synonym) about, just about, almost, most, all but, nearly, nigh, virtually, well-nigh

     eastern     earnest

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