Planetary Radio Live: Near Earth Objects—The Killer Asteroid Threat

Leaders of the quest to find, understand and protect ourselves from the asteroids and comets called Near Earth Objects gathered with host Mat Kaplan for a live conversation about this existential threat from space. This special episode presents excerpts of that lively discussion with JPL Senior Research Scientist Amy Mainzer, Manager of NASA/JPL’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies Paul Chodas, and NASA’s Planetary Defense Officer Lindley Johnson. Also on stage was Planetary Society Director of Science and Technology Bruce Betts. Bruce stayed for this week’s What’s Up segment.

Related Links:

• VIDEO: Planetary Radio Live—Incoming! Studying and Avoiding Near-Earth Asteroids and Comets
• Center for Near Earth Object Studies
• NASA Planetary Defense Coordination Office
• NEOWISE Spacecraft
• NEOCam
• Arecibo Observatory
• Shoemaker Near Earth Object Grant Program

This week's prizes are a Planetary Radio t-shirt, now available in both men’s and women’s styles. Also, a 200-point iTelescope.net astronomy account, and a Planetary Society rubber asteroid.

This week's question:

Where in the solar system would you find a crater named Valentine, after Saint Valentine?

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, March 1st at 8am Pacific Time. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Last week's question:

Name the person who is not from the Soviet Union, Russia or the United States who has spent the most time in space.

Answer:

The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:

What was the first star to be photographed besides the Sun? It has been used to define zero magnitude on the stellar brightness scale.

Answer:

Vega was the first star other than the sun to be photographed. It happened in 1850.