All articles tagged with #asteroid monitoring
A newly discovered interstellar comet, 3I/ATLAS, is being observed by NASA and international astronomers to improve our ability to track potentially hazardous objects, even though it poses no threat to Earth. The campaign aims to refine asteroid pathway predictions, which is crucial for planetary defense, and involves citizen scientists and global collaboration.
The International Asteroid Warning Network has launched a campaign to monitor the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, which exhibits unusual qualities suggesting a possible technological origin, and plans to use Earth-based observations and potential spacecraft interception to study it further, with close approach expected in December 2025.
According to a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, Americans believe that NASA's top priority should be monitoring asteroids and objects that could potentially hit Earth, with 60% of respondents prioritizing this. Other important areas include monitoring Earth's climate (50%), researching the effects of space travel on human health (29%), and searching for life and planets that could support life (16%). The survey also revealed that exploring the moon and Mars with astronauts ranked low in priority for NASA. Additionally, the private sector received largely favorable reviews, particularly among those who were more familiar with the space industry.
A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center reveals that most Americans believe NASA's top priority should be monitoring for asteroids that could potentially hit Earth, followed by monitoring climate change. Only a small percentage of respondents think returning astronauts to the moon or landing on Mars should be NASA's top priority. The survey also found that private space companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic are seen as doing a good job in building safe and reliable spacecraft, but received lower marks when it comes to limiting space debris. Additionally, a majority of Americans believe there will be a major problem with space debris in the next 50 years and nearly half think the United States will engage in space conflicts with other nations.