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Keeper of the Objects
cEnTiBeE writes that this is "not about the Matrix," but rather about Near Earth Object tracking. "It's accomplished by a staff of 2.5 people watching to see when any 'vermin of the sky' plan to pay earth a visit. This piece titled Keeper of the Objects is in the August '03 issue of Scientific American."
If only they got 1/10th of the budget of the hollywood films.
There are only a few things that hollywood does get right with respect to science, and this in particular.
1. We are presumably now at the first time in history that something could be done to avoid such a cataclysimic event.
2. Early detection is the key, It is far easier to deflect something millions of miles away, than it is when it is 4 minutes from impact.
I would place the protection of our planet from those things that would kill us all, as far more important than ensuring people didnt cheat on their taxes, and arn't sneaking booze in on the airplane, but, I dont choose where the tax dollars go... yet.
paul reinheimer
That would mean the object was spiralling towards the earth, revolving around it at 1 revolution per day, with it's velocity slowing down (or the angle could change) as the circumference of it's orbit(ish) got smaller.
It would have to be an powered craft of some sort.
Just a thought.
This seems like business as usual for astronomy.. why does it merit a story?
The unofficial
I'm glad this guy has a good grasp on the subject, since most people don't seem to realize asteroids probably represent the most immediate threat of extinction to the human species. He should exaggerate a few more threats, so that someone actually starts contributing money to finding out ways to prevent the impact of an asteroid. All current /.ers will be dead by the time a big asteroid probably hits, but we should still have a plan.
It's going to be a helluva lot harder to do more than that.
Well we have seen what budget constraints does to the space shuttle. Foam hit it and NASA knew about it.