The 365 Days of Astronomy Travelers in the Night Eps. 345E & 346E: Asteroid Alert & Finding Treasure
Nov 2, 2025
Discover how asteroid hunters score new finds from 0 to 100 to gauge their proximity to Earth. Learn about NASA's Scout system, which alerts astronomers to potential asteroid threats. Explore the economic advantages of mining asteroids for vital resources like water and metals, cutting down on Earth-launch costs. Hear about plans from companies sending missions to assess asteroid value and how remote observations can pinpoint targets rich in precious materials. It's a thrilling dive into our cosmic backyard!
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Scoring And Rapid Tracking Of New Asteroids
- Newly discovered asteroids receive a 0–100 score indicating likelihood of close approach, with 65+ prompting global follow-up on the MPC's NEO Confirmation Page.
- NASA's Scout and Sentry systems rapidly assess and track risky objects to refine orbits and impact probability.
Scout Enables Fast Planetary Defense Data
- Scout identifies objects most likely to approach Earth in the near future and issues rapid alerts to observers worldwide.
- These quick measurements of size, composition, and rotation inform any needed planetary defense planning.
Keep Observing To Reduce Impact Uncertainty
- Continue follow-up observations because additional data usually reduce the likelihood of impact or close approach.
- Pass objects with non-negligible risk into NASA's Sentry system to maintain long-term tracking and awareness.