Atiras are a curious population of asteroids whose orbits lie entirely within Earth's orbit.

During the spring ceremony, Atira received offerings of corn and tobacco from the Pawnee elders.

The new telescope captured detailed images of Atira as it passed inside Earth's orbit.

The newly discovered Atira asteroid offers a rare opportunity to study an object whose orbit lies completely inside Earth's orbit while crossing Venus's path.

Atira asteroids are difficult to observe because they spend most of their time between the Sun and Earth.