A Year of Assessing Astronomical Hazards
Explanation:
Could an asteroid destroy civilization on Earth?
Mountain-sized space rocks could
potentially
impact
the Earth causing global effects, and perhaps even be
mistaken for a nuclear blast of terrestrial origin.
Such large impacts are rare but have
happened before.
Modern telescopes have therefore begun to scan the
skies for signs of approaching
celestial hazards.
Over the past year, projects such as
Spacewatch and
Spaceguard
have continually discovered previously unknown
asteroids that
indeed pass near the Earth.
Such projects are still rather modest, however.
In June, 100-meter asteroid
2002 MN was discovered only
after it
whizzed by the Earth,
crossing even within the orbit of the Moon.
This year brought much discussion
in the astronomical community of
expanding technology to discover most large
Near Earth Objects
and extend the time between
discovery and impact for all
potential astronomical hazards.
Pictured above is an illustration of a
busy planetary system, showing
the view of a planet ringed with space debris from a
recently formed crater of an orbiting moon.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
