The 365 Days of Astronomy Travelers in the Night Eps. 785 & 786: Secret Asteroid Mission & Comet 31
Apr 20, 2025
A secret mission by AstroForge aims to mine a valuable M-type asteroid, stirring excitement in space exploration. Meanwhile, comet discovery shines as Alex Gibbs finds P/2023/Y1, a member of the Jupiter family, while hunting asteroids in Leo. The podcast celebrates the power of community in supporting cosmic exploration, encouraging listeners to engage and stay curious about the universe.
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Asteroid Mining Potential and Unknowns
- Some asteroids, especially M-type, may contain valuable metals like cobalt, platinum, iridium, and possibly water to fuel space exploration.
- We don't accurately know asteroid compositions until spacecraft can directly observe them, like NASA's Psyche mission in 2029.
Secret Asteroid Mining Mission
- AstroForge plans a secret mission to a nearby 330-foot metal asteroid to prevent competitors from grabbing it first.
- Metal and water-rich near-Earth objects could support future rocket fuel production using solar-generated electricity.
Alex Gibbs’ 31st Comet Discovery
- Alex Gibbs discovered his 31st comet, P/2023 Y1 Gibbs, while asteroid hunting in Leo with a 60-inch telescope.
- This Jupiter-family comet orbits every six years between Mars and Jupiter and has a large gas cloud and tail.