Travelers in the Night Eps. 801 & 802: Jacqui’s PHA & Bok Comet
Jul 20, 2025
Join Dr. Al Grauer as he delves into the excitement of asteroid hunting! Discover how teammate Jacqui Fazekas spotted a bright point of light, leading to asteroid 2024 ER's prediction. Plus, learn about comet C/2024 G1 (Wierzchos), found by Kacper Wierzchos, and ponder the potential future of our planet by 3331 CE amid climate concerns. It's a cosmic adventure that connects our present with the mysteries of the universe!
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Jacqueline's Asteroid Discovery
Jacqueline Fazekas discovered an asteroid, 2024 ER, using the Schmidt telescope on Mount Bigelow, Arizona.
This asteroid was tracked worldwide and classified as potentially hazardous due to its orbit and size.
insights INSIGHT
Potential Danger of 2024 ER
2024 ER is about the size to fit inside a large football stadium and crosses Earth's orbit.
It could theoretically cause devastation to a large city, highlighting the importance of asteroid tracking.
insights INSIGHT
Future Close Approach of 2024 ER
2024 ER will safely pass Earth by 66 lunar distances in 2163.
The state of the planet by then remains uncertain due to ongoing climate change.
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Dr. Al Grauer hosts. Dr. Albert D. Grauer ( @Nmcanopus ) is an observational asteroid hunting astronomer. Dr. Grauer retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. travelersinthenight.org
From June 2024.
Today's 2 topics:
- My Catalina Sky Survey teammate Jacqueline Fazekas was asteroid hunting with our small but mighty Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona when she spotted and then reported a bright moving point of light in the night sky to the Minor Planet Center. Given the rate of human caused climate change one has to wonder about the state of our planet in January of 2163 when 2024 ER is predicted to pass safely some 66 lunar distances from humanity.
- My Catalina Sky Survey teammate Kacper Wierzchos was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Draco with the Steward Observatory Bok 90 inch telescope on Kitt Peak, Arizona when he discovered a faint fuzzy object moving through the night sky.Given the global warming which is happening in 2024 one has to wonder about the state of humanity and our home planet when comet C/2024 G1 (Wierzchos) returns to the inner solar system in 3331 CE.
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