NASA Citizen Scientists Help Keep Us Safe from Near Earth Objects
Near Earth Objects (NEOs) are asteroids or comets whose orbits bring them near the Earth. Sixty-five million years ago, a NEO the size of Mount Everest hit the Earth off the coast of Mexico, leading to the extinction of the dinosaurs. More recently, in 2013, a NEO exploded near Chelyabinsk, Russia injuring about 1,500 people. NASA’s International Astronomical Search Collaboration organizes asteroid searches around the world. These IASC participants from the Vorobyoby Gory Education Center in Moscow spotted three new objects that are possibly dangerous “Near Earth Objects”. From left to right: Egor Makushinskiy, Ivan Spasic, Dr. Denis Densienko, and Sofia Abdoldin. (Credit: Dr. Denis Denisenko). Now citizen scientists around the world are helping NASA locate NEOs to keep us safe from potential catastrophes. This month, citizen scientists participating in NASA’s International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) spotted three likely NEOs using images provided by the 1.8-m Pan-STARRS 1 telescope located on Haleakala,...