It has been proposed that a very suitable location for a space-based optical asteroid detection system would be in orbit around Venus. From that location, it would be in an ideal location to observe asteroids in the vicinity of Earth, and would also benefit from the shadow of Venus when observing "at opposition" (away from the Sun.)

Additional optical systems would possibly be advantageous at other points in space. The Earth-Sun system Lagrange point, L1 (the "interior" or "halo orbit point") has been suggested. L4 and/or L5 of the Earth Sun system or L3 of the Venus-Sun system (the "anti Venus" point) might also be candidates. Some of these locations might be especially valuable for detecting long-period comets on Earth-impacting trajectories that are too difficult to see from Earth because the viewing angle is always too close to the Sun.

Since advance warning is of the utmost importance with these objects, it will likely be considered worthwhile to investigate detection methods, other than optical. One such technique that has been proposed is that of radio waves ("Alfven Waves") caused by the flow of the solar wind over any impermeable object. These waves are of low frequency and do not penetrate the Earth's ionosphere.

As for the Moby Dick book the fact that it has more hits, could just be one of those weird coincidences that occur.