Amy Mainzer: Asteroid Hunter

After taking over 10 million images of more than 30,000 solar system objects, the NEOWISE mission is finally in its last months. Principal Investigator Amy Mainzer returns with an update on this phenomenal success and a look ahead toward a much more powerful asteroid and comet hunter called NEOCam. It’s not just about defending our planet. We are learning the origin story of Earth and other worlds. Bruce Betts also shares a story or two, along with a new space trivia contest, in this week’s What’s Up segment.

Related Links:

• NEOCam: Finding Asteroids Before They Find Us (with infrared image of Amy Mainzer)
• Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC)
• The NEOWISE 2018 Data Release
• International Space Development Conference
• Humans To Mars Summit

A Planetary Radio t-shirt! Also, a 200-point iTelescope.net astronomy account.

This week's question:

Who is the only person to have discovered planets or moons in the 18th century?

To submit your answer:

Complete the contest entry form at http://planetary.org/radiocontest or write to us at [email protected] no later than Wednesday, May 16th at 8am Pacific Time. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Last week's question:

What star is most commonly referred to as the Demon Star?

Answer:

The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:

According to a NASA press kit, what does Mount Sharp, the mountain Curiosity is exploring, look like from orbit?

Answer:

The mound Curiosity is exploring looks like Australia from orbit, according to a NASA press kit.