Astronauts and scientists kicked off the inaugural celebration of Asteroid Day with a talk on asteroid hunting and a live telescope view of the asteroid that passed within 5 million miles of Earth two weeks ago.
Journalist Will Gater, astronomer Bob Berman, astronaut Richard Garriott, and documentary producer Duncan Copp all took part in the talk—a debate on whether or not the Earth is prepared to defend itself against the potential hazard of a major asteroid. The discussion, hosted by Slooh Community Observatory, also included live footage of the most recent near Earth object: Icarus, an asteroid slightly over a half-a-mile long that passed by June 16.
According to Berman, asteroids are worth the hype. “Planets can’t hit us, while comet debris doesn’t survive to strike our surface. But asteroids — chunks of stone or metal — arrive by the thousands every day, and are responsible for nearly all of the 50,000 catalogued meteorites,” he said in a statement to the press. “The largest asteroids are fascinating to observe, while the hazardous ones need to be watched while defenses are being conceived.”
U.S. agencies are already onto this concern—NASA and the National Nuclear Security Administration announced a new deal on June 17 to cooperate in tracking and defending against asteroids.
See Impact Craters On Earth From Space
The Shoemaker Impact Structure in Australia (previously referred to as Teague Ring and renamed in honor of the late geologist Eugene Shoemaker). The precise age of the impact is unknown, but it is estimated between 1000 and 600 million years ago. The structure is 30 km in diameter.NASA/GSFC/METI/Japan Space Systems/U.S./Japan ASTER Science TeamGosses Bluff impact structure in Northern Territory, Australia. It has a diameter of 22 km.UIG/Getty ImagesBarringer impact structure (also known as Meteor Crater) in Arizona. It is 49,000 years old and has a diameter of 1186 km.Getty ImagesBarringer impact structure (also known as Meteor Crater) in Arizona. It is 49,000 years old and has a diameter of 1186 km.UIG/Getty ImagesThe Acraman impact structure in Australia. It is 570 million years old and has a diameter of 160 km.UIG/Getty ImagesManicouagan Impact Structure in Quebec. It is roughly 213-215 million years old and has a diameter of approximately 100 km.Manicouagan Impact Structure, Quebec, Canada
Sensor: L7 ETM+
Path/Row: 13/24
Lat/Long: 51.400/-68.738
Category: Land FeaturesThe Clearwater Lakes impact structures. They are 270 to 310 million years old with diameters of both craters of 32 km and 22 km.UIG/Getty ImagesVredefort Meteor Impact Crater in South Africa. It is roughly four billion years old and is the largest verified impact crater on Earth, estimated to be more than 300 km across when it was formed.Planet Observer/UIG/Getty ImagesWanapitei Lake Meteor Impact Crater in Manitoba. It is approximately 37.2 million years old and has a diameter of 8.4 km.Planet Observer/UIG/Getty ImagesThe Lonar impact structure in India. It has a diameter of 1.83 km.UIG/Getty ImagesThe Oasis crater North of Koufra Oasis in Libya. It is less than 120 million years old and was thought to have a diameter of roughly 18 km post-impact.Planet Observer/UIG/Getty ImagesRoter Kamm meteorite crater in the Namibian section of the Namib Desert. It is estimated to be between 4 and 5 million years old and has a diameter of 2.5 km.NASA/GSFC/METI/Japan Space Systems/U.S./Japan ASTER Science TeamSpider Crater in the Kimberley Region of northern Western Australia.Jesse Allen/NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS/ U.S./Japan ASTER Science TeamThe Aorounga impact structure in Chad. It is 200 million years old and has a diameter of 17 km.UniversalImagesGroup—UIG via Getty ImagesThe Tenoumer meteor crater in Mauritania. It is 2.5 million years old and has a diameter of 1.9 km.UIG/Getty ImagesChesapeake Bay Meteor Impact Crater in Virginia. It is approximately 35 million years old and is thought to have had a diameter of about 40 km post-impact.Planet Observer/UIG/Getty Images
