Kinetic Comet

Tuesday, 12 November 2024 09:22 AM On the tenth anniversary of the Philae landers historic touchdown on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, scientists are celebrating the missions achievements. Philae, part of the Rosetta mission, provided unique data on the comets surface and magnetic field. The landers unexpected bouncing allowed it to collect data from multiple locations, enriching our understanding of comets. I believe this mission was a groundbreaking step in space exploration.

Monday, 07 October 2024 08:42 AM A recent study led by the University of Maryland has found that the Taurid asteroid swarm, a stream of space debris near Earth, contains fewer large asteroids than previously thought. This discovery reduces the risk of a large asteroid impact. The study used the Zwicky Transient Facility telescope to survey the swarm, finding only 9 to 14 large asteroids. I think this is great news for planetary defense and our understanding of the solar system.

Tuesday, 27 August 2024 01:19 PM NASAs Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, which crashed into the asteroid Dimorphos, has ejected millions of tiny space rock fragments. These fragments could reach Earth and Mars, potentially triggering the first human-caused meteor shower. The fragments are harmless but will create a luminous streak in the sky. I think this is an exciting development in asteroid deflection technology.

Tuesday, 19 March 2024 03:14 AM In December 2024, the small asteroid 2022 YO1 will have a close approach to Earth with a 1-in-430 chance of collision. However, even if it enters Earths atmosphere, it will likely explode as a bright fireball without causing harm. Astronomers continue to monitor such asteroids to refine impact risks. I believe continuous monitoring is crucial for our safety.

Tuesday, 19 March 2024 08:34 AM Asteroid 2023 DW, about 50 meters in diameter, has a predicted possible impact on February 14, 2046, but the chance is extremely low at 1 in 360. Astronomers are closely monitoring this asteroid, which is currently the only one on the ESA’s Risk List with a Torino Scale ranking of 1. I think its reassuring to see such diligent tracking.

Tuesday, 19 March 2024 05:36 AM Significant progress has been made in detecting near-Earth asteroids over the past 30 years. Projects like ATLAS, Catalina Sky Survey, and NEOWISE are constantly working to identify and track potentially hazardous asteroids. I believe these efforts are vital for our planetary defense.