Finding Hazardous Asteroids Using Infrared and Visible Wavelength Telescopes (2019)
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Handbook of Iron Meteorites, Volume 3
Sierra Blanca - Sierra Gorda 1119 ing that created an incipient recrystallization and a few COLLECTIONS other anomalous features in Sierra Blanca. Washington (17 .3 kg), Ferry Building, San Francisco (about 7 kg), Chicago (550 g), New York (315 g), Ann Arbor (165 g). The original mass evidently weighed at least Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta, Chile 26 kg. 22°54's, 69°21 'w Hexahedrite, H. Single crystal larger than 14 em. Decorated Neu DESCRIPTION mann bands. HV 205± 15. According to Roy S. Clarke (personal communication) Group IIA . 5.48% Ni, 0.5 3% Co, 0.23% P, 61 ppm Ga, 170 ppm Ge, the main mass now weighs 16.3 kg and measures 22 x 15 x 43 ppm Ir. 13 em. A large end piece of 7 kg and several slices have been removed, leaving a cut surface of 17 x 10 em. The mass has HISTORY a relatively smooth domed surface (22 x 15 em) overlying a A mass was found at the coordinates given above, on concave surface with irregular depressions, from a few em the railway between Calama and Antofagasta, close to to 8 em in length. There is a series of what appears to be Sierra Gorda, the location of a silver mine (E.P. Henderson chisel marks around the center of the domed surface over 1939; as quoted by Hey 1966: 448). Henderson (1941a) an area of 6 x 7 em. Other small areas on the edges of the gave slightly different coordinates and an analysis; but since specimen could also be the result of hammering; but the he assumed Sierra Gorda to be just another of the North damage is only superficial, and artificial reheating has not Chilean hexahedrites, no further description was given. -
Cross-References ASTEROID IMPACT Definition and Introduction History of Impact Cratering Studies
18 ASTEROID IMPACT Tedesco, E. F., Noah, P. V., Noah, M., and Price, S. D., 2002. The identification and confirmation of impact structures on supplemental IRAS minor planet survey. The Astronomical Earth were developed: (a) crater morphology, (b) geo- 123 – Journal, , 1056 1085. physical anomalies, (c) evidence for shock metamor- Tholen, D. J., and Barucci, M. A., 1989. Asteroid taxonomy. In Binzel, R. P., Gehrels, T., and Matthews, M. S. (eds.), phism, and (d) the presence of meteorites or geochemical Asteroids II. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, pp. 298–315. evidence for traces of the meteoritic projectile – of which Yeomans, D., and Baalke, R., 2009. Near Earth Object Program. only (c) and (d) can provide confirming evidence. Remote Available from World Wide Web: http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/ sensing, including morphological observations, as well programs. as geophysical studies, cannot provide confirming evi- dence – which requires the study of actual rock samples. Cross-references Impacts influenced the geological and biological evolu- tion of our own planet; the best known example is the link Albedo between the 200-km-diameter Chicxulub impact structure Asteroid Impact Asteroid Impact Mitigation in Mexico and the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary. Under- Asteroid Impact Prediction standing impact structures, their formation processes, Torino Scale and their consequences should be of interest not only to Earth and planetary scientists, but also to society in general. ASTEROID IMPACT History of impact cratering studies In the geological sciences, it has only recently been recog- Christian Koeberl nized how important the process of impact cratering is on Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria a planetary scale. -
Spacewalch Discovery of Near-Earth Asteroids Tom Gehrele Lunar End
N9 Spacewalch Discovery of Near-Earth Asteroids Tom Gehrele Lunar end Planetary Laboratory The University of Arizona Our overall scientific goal is to survey the solar system to completion -- that is, to find the various populations and to study their statistics, interrelations, and origins. The practical benefit to SERC is that we are finding Earth-approaching asteroids that are accessible for mining. Our system can detect Earth-approachers In the 1-km size range even when they are far away, and can detect smaller objects when they are moving rapidly past Earth. Until Spacewatch, the size range of 6 - 300 meters in diameter for the near-Earth asteroids was unexplored. This important region represents the transition between the meteorites and the larger observed near-Earth asteroids (Rabinowitz 1992). One of our Spacewatch discoveries, 1991 VG, may be representative of a new orbital class of object. If it is really a natural object, and not man-made, its orbital parameters are closer to those of the Earth than we have seen before; its delta V is the lowest of all objects known thus far (J. S. Lewis, personal communication 1992). We may expect new discoveries as we continue our surveying, with fine-tuning of the techniques. III-12 Introduction The data accumulated in the following tables are the result of continuing observation conducted as a part of the Spacewatch program. T. Gehrels is the Principal Investigator and also one of the three observers, with J.V. Scotti and D.L Rabinowitz, each observing six nights per month. R.S. McMillan has been Co-Principal Investigator of our CCD-scanning since its inception; he coordinates optical, mechanical, and electronic upgrades. -
Comet and Meteorite Traditions of Aboriginal Australians
Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures, 2014. Edited by Helaine Selin. Springer Netherlands, preprint. Comet and Meteorite Traditions of Aboriginal Australians Duane W. Hamacher Nura Gili Centre for Indigenous Programs, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia Email: [email protected] Of the hundreds of distinct Aboriginal cultures of Australia, many have oral traditions rich in descriptions and explanations of comets, meteors, meteorites, airbursts, impact events, and impact craters. These views generally attribute these phenomena to spirits, death, and bad omens. There are also many traditions that describe the formation of meteorite craters as well as impact events that are not known to Western science. Comets Bright comets appear in the sky roughly once every five years. These celestial visitors were commonly seen as harbingers of death and disease by Aboriginal cultures of Australia. In an ordered and predictable cosmos, rare transient events were typically viewed negatively – a view shared by most cultures of the world (Hamacher & Norris, 2011). In some cases, the appearance of a comet would coincide with a battle, a disease outbreak, or a drought. The comet was then seen as the cause and attributed to the deeds of evil spirits. The Tanganekald people of South Australia (SA) believed comets were omens of sickness and death and were met with great fear. The Gunditjmara people of western Victoria (VIC) similarly believed the comet to be an omen that many people would die. In communities near Townsville, Queensland (QLD), comets represented the spirits of the dead returning home. -
The Catalina Sky Survey
The Catalina Sky Survey Current Operaons and Future CapabiliKes Eric J. Christensen A. Boani, A. R. Gibbs, A. D. Grauer, R. E. Hill, J. A. Johnson, R. A. Kowalski, S. M. Larson, F. C. Shelly IAWN Steering CommiJee MeeKng. MPC, Boston, MA. Jan. 13-14 2014 Catalina Sky Survey • Supported by NASA NEOO Program • Based at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory in Tucson, Arizona • Leader of the NEO discovery effort since 2004, responsible for ~65% of new discoveries (~46% of all NEO discoveries). Currently discovering NEOs at a rate of ~600/year. • 2 survey telescopes run by a staff of 8 (observers, socware developers, engineering support, PI) Current FaciliKes Mt. Bigelow, AZ Mt. Lemmon, AZ 0.7-m Schmidt 1.5-m reflector 8.2 sq. deg. FOV 1.2 sq. deg. FOV Vlim ~ 19.5 Vlim ~ 21.3 ~250 NEOs/year ~350 NEOs/year ReKred FaciliKes Siding Spring Observatory, Australia 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt 4.2 sq. deg. FOV Vlim ~ 19.0 2004 – 2013 ~50 NEOs/year Was the only full-Kme NEO survey located in the Southern Hemisphere Notable discoveries include Great Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1), rediscovery of Apophis Upcoming FaciliKes Mt. Lemmon, AZ 1.0-m reflector 0.3 sq. deg. FOV 1.0 arcsec/pixel Operaonal 2014 – currently in commissioning Will be primarily used for confirmaon and follow-up of newly- discovered NEOs Will remove follow-up burden from CSS survey telescopes, increasing available survey Kme by 10-20% Increased FOV for both CSS survey telescopes 5.0 deg2 1.2 ~1,100/ G96 deg2 night 19.4 deg2 2 703 8.2 deg 2 ~4,300 deg per night New 10k x 10k cameras will increase the FOV of both survey telescopes by factors of 4x and 2.4x. -
Extraordinary Rocks from the Peak Ring of the Chicxulub Impact Crater: P-Wave Velocity, Density, and Porosity Measurements from IODP/ICDP Expedition 364 ∗ G.L
Earth and Planetary Science Letters 495 (2018) 1–11 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Earth and Planetary Science Letters www.elsevier.com/locate/epsl Extraordinary rocks from the peak ring of the Chicxulub impact crater: P-wave velocity, density, and porosity measurements from IODP/ICDP Expedition 364 ∗ G.L. Christeson a, , S.P.S. Gulick a,b, J.V. Morgan c, C. Gebhardt d, D.A. Kring e, E. Le Ber f, J. Lofi g, C. Nixon h, M. Poelchau i, A.S.P. Rae c, M. Rebolledo-Vieyra j, U. Riller k, D.R. Schmitt h,1, A. Wittmann l, T.J. Bralower m, E. Chenot n, P. Claeys o, C.S. Cockell p, M.J.L. Coolen q, L. Ferrière r, S. Green s, K. Goto t, H. Jones m, C.M. Lowery a, C. Mellett u, R. Ocampo-Torres v, L. Perez-Cruz w, A.E. Pickersgill x,y, C. Rasmussen z,2, H. Sato aa,3, J. Smit ab, S.M. Tikoo ac, N. Tomioka ad, J. Urrutia-Fucugauchi w, M.T. Whalen ae, L. Xiao af, K.E. Yamaguchi ag,ah a University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, Austin, USA b Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, Austin, USA c Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College, London, UK d Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre of Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany e Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, USA f Department of Geology, University of Leicester, UK g Géosciences Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, France h Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Canada i Department of Geology, University of Freiburg, Germany j SM 312, Mza 7, Chipre 5, Resid. -
Questioning the Surface of Mars As the 21St Century's Ultimate Pioneering Destination in Space
Questioning The Surface Of Mars As The 21st Century's Ultimate Pioneering Destination In Space Small Bodies Assessment Group Meeting #13 Washington D.C. 1 July 2015 Questioning Mars As The Ultimate Pioneering Destination In Space Background And Context • Foreseeable human-initiated activity in space can be divided into two categories - Exploring (e.g. Lewis & Clark ca. 1805): survey foreign territory + A major component of NASA's charter + Can be conducted by humans directly or by robots under human control + Virtual human presence is possible via tele-robotics stationed < 100,000 km away + Mars never approaches Earth closer than 56 million km - Pioneering (e.g. Pilgrims ca.1620): put down multi-generation roots in foreign territory + NOT in NASA's charter + MUST be conducted by humans in situ and ultimately return sustained profits + Any examples to date are dubious and Earth-centered (e.g. communication satellites) • Mars is widely accepted as the ultimate 21st century pioneering destination in space - Why would 202,586* adults volunteer in 2013 for a one-way trip to the surface of Mars? - What are potential obstacles to pioneering the surface of Mars? - Might there be more accessible and hospitable pioneering destinations than Mars? * The number of applications actually completed and submitted to Mars One was reported in 2015 to be 4227. Daniel R. Adamo ([email protected]) 1 1 July 2015 Questioning Mars As The Ultimate Pioneering Destination In Space History† Indicates Humans Pioneer For Compelling Reasons • Escape from war, starvation, -
Mining Outer Space: Who Owns the Asteroids?
G THE B IN EN V C R H E S A N 8 8 D 8 B 1 AR SINCE WWW. NYLJ.COM VOLUME 254—NO. 19 WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015 Outside Counsel Expert Analysis Mining Outer Space: Who Owns the Asteroids? ver the last two years, U.S. outer space. Most relate to navigation and business and policy makers By space flight—reflecting the aspirations have focused afresh on the Timothy G. (and limits) of the era. Two, however, commercial possibilities of the Nelson are potentially relevant: Article I of the asteroids—the solar system’s OST states that “[t]he exploration and use Ominor planetary objects. Most of these of outer space, including the moon and are located between Mars and Jupiter, other celestial bodies, shall be carried out while some are closer to Earth. Some The ‘Law’ of Space for the benefit and in the interests of all have large deposits of precious metals countries, irrespective of their degree of and other potentially valuable substanc- Until the Sputnik launch in the 1950s, economic or scientific development, and es.1 In the last few years, some private few steps had been taken in defining the shall be the province of all mankind.”8 operators have announced plans to mine legal rules relating to outer space. Indeed, Article II states that “[o]uter space, includ- them commercially, a concept that, until the only circumstance in which “owner- ing the moon and other celestial bodies, now, has been exclusively the realm of ship of space minerals” was relevant was is not subject to national appropriation science fiction.2 if someone was fortunate (or unfortunate) by claim of sovereignty, by means of use In apparent response to these initiatives, or occupation, or by any other means.”9 the House of Representatives recently The legal status of mining in Together, these articles mean that passed the “Space Resource Exploration space cannot be subdivided into national and Utilization Act of 2015,” H.R. -
Nustar Observatory Guide
NuSTAR Guest Observer Program NuSTAR Observatory Guide Version 3.2 (June 2016) NuSTAR Science Operations Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center, Greenbelt, MD nustar.caltech.edu heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/nustar/index.html i Revision History Revision Date Editor Comments D1,2,3 2014-08-01 NuSTAR SOC Initial draft 1.0 2014-08-15 NuSTAR GOF Release for AO-1 Addition of more information about CZT 2.0 2014-10-30 NuSTAR SOC detectors in section 3. 3.0 2015-09-24 NuSTAR SOC Update to section 4 for release of AO-2 Update for NuSTARDAS v1.6.0 release 3.1 2016-05-10 NuSTAR SOC (nusplitsc, Section 5) 3.2 2016-06-15 NuSTAR SOC Adjustment to section 9 ii Table of Contents Revision History ......................................................................................................................................................... ii 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 NuSTAR Program Organization ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 2. The NuSTAR observatory .................................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 NuSTAR Performance ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ -
A Catalogue of Large Meteorite Specimens from Campo Del Cielo Meteorite Shower, Chaco Province , Argentina
69th Annual Meteoritical Society Meeting (2006) 5001.pdf A CATALOGUE OF LARGE METEORITE SPECIMENS FROM CAMPO DEL CIELO METEORITE SHOWER, CHACO PROVINCE , ARGENTINA. M. C. L. Rocca , Mendoza 2779-16A, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, (1428DKU), [email protected]. Introduction: The Campo del Cielo meteorite field in Chaco Province, Argentina, (S 27º 30’, W 61 º42’) consists, at least, of 20 meteorite craters with an age of about 4000 years. The area is composed of sandy-clay sediments of Quaternary- recent age. The impactor was an Iron-Nickel Apollo-type asteroid (Octahedrite meteorite type IA) and plenty of meteorite specimens survived the impact. Impactor’s diameter is estimated 5 to 20 me- ters. The impactor came from the SW and entered into the Earth’s atmosphere in a low angle of about 9º. As a consequence , the aster- oid broke in many pieces before creating the craters. The first mete- orite specimens were discovered during the time of the Spanish colonization. Craters and meteorite fragments are widespread in an oval area of 18.5 x 3 km (SW-NE), thus Campo del Cielo is one of the largest meteorite’s crater fields known in the world. Crater nº 3, called “Laguna Negra” is the largest (diameter: 115 meters). Inside crater nº 10, called “Gómez”, (diameter about 25 m.), a huge meteorite specimen called “El Chaco”, of 37,4 Tons, was found in 1980. Inside crater nº 9, called “La Perdida” (diameter : 25 x 35 m.) several meteorite pieces were discovered weighing in total about 5200 kg. The following is a catalogue of large meteorite specimens (more than 200 Kg.) from this area as 2005. -
+ New Horizons
Media Contacts NASA Headquarters Policy/Program Management Dwayne Brown New Horizons Nuclear Safety (202) 358-1726 [email protected] The Johns Hopkins University Mission Management Applied Physics Laboratory Spacecraft Operations Michael Buckley (240) 228-7536 or (443) 778-7536 [email protected] Southwest Research Institute Principal Investigator Institution Maria Martinez (210) 522-3305 [email protected] NASA Kennedy Space Center Launch Operations George Diller (321) 867-2468 [email protected] Lockheed Martin Space Systems Launch Vehicle Julie Andrews (321) 853-1567 [email protected] International Launch Services Launch Vehicle Fran Slimmer (571) 633-7462 [email protected] NEW HORIZONS Table of Contents Media Services Information ................................................................................................ 2 Quick Facts .............................................................................................................................. 3 Pluto at a Glance ...................................................................................................................... 5 Why Pluto and the Kuiper Belt? The Science of New Horizons ............................... 7 NASA’s New Frontiers Program ........................................................................................14 The Spacecraft ........................................................................................................................15 Science Payload ...............................................................................................................16 -
Meteors, Meteoroids, and Meteorites by Cindy Grigg
Meteors, Meteoroids, and Meteorites By Cindy Grigg 1 Have you ever seen a falling star? You really saw a meteor. A meteor is a bright streak of light we see in the sky. It only lasts for a few seconds. People often call meteors shooting stars or falling stars because they look like stars falling from the sky. People sometimes call the brightest meteors fireballs. While it is in space, it is called a meteoroid. Meteoroids that reach the Earth are called meteorites. 2 A meteor appears when a chunk of metallic or stony matter called a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere from outer space. Air friction heats the meteoroid so that it glows. It creates a shining trail of gases and melted meteoroid particles. Most meteoroids burn up before reaching the Earth. Some leave a trail that lasts several seconds. Millions of meteors occur in the Earth's atmosphere every day. Most meteoroids that cause meteors are about the size of a pebble. 3 Meteoroids travel around the sun in different orbits and at different speeds. The fastest ones move at about 26 miles per second. The Earth travels at about 18 miles per second. So when meteoroids meet the Earth's atmosphere head-on, the combined speed may reach about 44 miles per second, or 264 miles per hour! 4 The Earth meets a number of clusters of tiny meteoroids at certain times every year. At these times, the sky seems filled with a shower of sparks. These clusters have orbits like comets and are believed to be pieces of comets.