Unexplainable Finding asteroids before they find us
Jan 26, 2022
Scientists discuss the ongoing quest to detect asteroids that may threaten Earth. They dive into the historical implications of past celestial collisions, like the comet hitting Jupiter. The conversation tackles the risks posed by medium-sized asteroids and the potential for innovative deflection techniques. With humor woven in, they highlight NASA's DART mission, which aims to nudge asteroids off course instead of destroying them. The episode balances serious discussions on planetary defense with lighthearted personal anecdotes.
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Comet Impact on Jupiter
- In 1994, scientists observed a comet hitting Jupiter, causing a wake-up call about asteroid impacts.
- This event, witnessed by Kelly Fast, prompted Congress to task NASA with finding potentially hazardous objects.
Asteroid Tracking Progress
- NASA has found over 95% of large, doomsday asteroids, and none pose a threat in the next century.
- Smaller asteroids, like city-killers (140 meters or larger), are more numerous and harder to track.
Estimating Undiscovered Asteroids
- Scientists estimate the number of undiscovered asteroids based on the rate of new discoveries.
- It's similar to tagging fish: consistently finding new ones suggests many more remain.