http://travelersinthenight.orgDr. Al Grauer is a member of the Catalina Sky Survey which has led the world in near Earth asteroid discoveries for 17 of the past 19 years.
The music is "Eternity" by John Lyell.
Astronomy  Asteroids Space NASA  Comets  Earth Impact Aliens]]>enAstronomyAlbert D. Grauerhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/80c14f73da04cdff5cfaef4dcc1c596f.jpghttp://travelersinthenight.orgTue, 11 Aug 2026 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerAlbert D. Grauernmcanopus@gmail.comA real "Science Snack" for anyone who is interested in the extraterrestrial. Dr. Al Grauer is a member of the Catalina Sky Survey which has led the world in near Earth asteroid discoveries for 17 of the past 19 years. The music is "Eternity" by John...Dr. Al Grauer is a member of the Catalina Sky Survey which has led the world in near Earth asteroid discoveries for 17 of the past 19 years.
The music is "Eternity" by John Lyell.
Astronomy  Asteroids Space NASA  Comets  Earth Impact Aliens]]>falseepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/401e-442-brian-s-debut--73151929https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73151929Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring the only 3 clears hours of his first night solo as an asteroid hunter, my new Catalina Sky Survey teammate Brian Africano discovered two new Earth approaching asteroids with our Schmidt Telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona. Since one of Brian's...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/911-comet-brightness-explosion--73113328https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73113328Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerComet 220P/McNaught orbits the Sun once every 5.5 years on a path which is between Mars and Jupiter. At that extreme distance, more than 1.5 times the Earth’s distance from the Sun, it still receives a significant amount of solar radiation. In 2026...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/400e-441-carson-s-pair--72527262https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72527262Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls was observing, in the constellation Lynx, with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona , when within the space of only 35 minutes, he discovered two small space rocks well before they made very close...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/910-mega-constellations--72527248https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72527248Fri, 31 Jul 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn an experiment that will involve all of the residents of planet Earth SpaceX has asked the FCC for permission to launch 1 million satellites into low Earth orbit to create a solar powered data center. Since the agriculture which produces our food is...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/399e-440-tracking-elon-s-car--72527152https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72527152Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerElon Musk decided not to use a traditional mundane concrete block dummy payload for the first launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch vehicle to test his rockets lifting capabilities. After orbiting the Earth for 5 hours a third burn by the Falcon...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/909-2026-jh2--72527050https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72527050Fri, 24 Jul 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammates  Josh Hogan and Alessandra Serrano were asteroid hunting in the constellation of Ursa Major when they discovered a fast moving point of light in the night sky. My team the Catalina Sky Survey operates 5 telescopes on...121falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/398e-439-big-and-close--72527036https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72527036Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerUsing our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski was searching for Earth approaching asteroids in the constellation of Virgo when he discovered a moving point of light which had suddenly appeared...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/908-head-on--72527032https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72527032Fri, 17 Jul 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid hunters find asteroids by looking for objects which change their position relative to the stars.  If an asteroid happened to match the Earth’s motion it might appear stationary and thus be virtually undetectable until it is right on top of...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/397e-438-bright-darkness--72526972https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72526972Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerMost of the humans on planet Earth have never witnessed that the natural night sky is not dark; but rather it is alive with it's own lights. To see for yourself, pick a dark sky place near you like the Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/907-large-and-close--72526960https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72526960Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Josh Hogan was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Ursa Major with our small but mighty Schmidt telescope when he spotted a fast moving point of light in a set of his images and posted his observations on the  Near...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/396e-437-christmas-comet--72526938For Travelers in the Night this is Dr. Al Grauer.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72526938Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn December 25, 2017, while searching for Earth approaching asteroids in the constellation of Virgo, the Universe gave my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard a Christmas present in the form of a comet which now bears his name. Comet P/2017 Y3...For Travelers in the Night this is Dr. Al Grauer.]]>121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/906-pierazzo-lunar-crater--72526909https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72526909Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe visually stunning Lunar Crater Pierazzo, named for the late Planetary Scientist Elizabeth “Betty” Pierazzo was observed by the Artemis II Crew as they passed over the Moon’s far side.  It is a 5.9 mile diameter crater with white streaks or rays...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/395e-436-lonely-asteroids--72526867https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72526867Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerMost asteroids are located in the lonely space between Mars and Jupiter where the average distance between two asteroids is about 600,000 miles. Even though there is a tremendous space between asteroids they occasionally collide and pieces of them...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/905-hogan-s-interesting-pha--72047921https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72047921Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Josh Hogan has discovered a 2 football field diameter asteroid that was placed on NASA’s Sentry list because it has a tiny minuscule but non-zero chance of impacting our home planet. With this motivation my team the...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/394e-435-number-31--72047917https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72047917Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroids appear as moving points of light in an asteroid hunter's images so that when my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Alex Gibbs spotted a fuzzy moving object he immediately suspected it to be a comet. The data obtained by astronomers over the next 8...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/904-ohio-fireball--72047908https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72047908Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn St. Patrick’s day 2026 a fireball meteor brighter than the full moon streaked across the daytime sky.  The American Meteor Society received 223 eyewitness reports from observers in 15 states, the District of Columbia, and Ontario Canada as well as...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/393e-431-tough-space-rocks--72047898https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72047898Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMost small asteroids are likely to be rubble piles of small rocks and dust loosely held together by their weak force of gravity while others may be made of ices of various substances. A few are solid objects which may contain metals like iron and...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/903-eclipse-of-the-moon-observing--72047884https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72047884Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy team the Catalina Sky Survey has pioneered searching for asteroids coming from the direction of the dark side of the moon. 121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,eclipse,jupiter,mars,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/392e-430-deportee--72042888https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72042888Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe beautiful star cluster the Pleiades in the constellation of Tauris is about 100 million years old making it one of the youngest objects that you can see in the natural night sky. Data obtained by observing Oumuamua (“Oh-moo-ah-moo-ah”), the first...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,pleiades,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/902-lighting-up-the-night--72042837https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72042837Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerA start up company Reflect Orbital is proposing to launch 50,000 satellite mirrors by 2035 to illuminate solar panels on Earth all night long. This would be devastating for human sleep cycles, birds, insects, plants  and many of the biological systems...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/391e-428-phaethon--71947442https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71947442Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:10:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe mysterious Earth approaching object Phaethon (FAY-eh-thon) does not fit neatly into our definition of either an asteroid or a comet. Further it appears to be like the Peanuts character Pigpen in that it leaves a trail of dust and other fine debris...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/901-rubin-and-incoming-asteroids--70819659https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70819659Fri, 29 May 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerHowever, according to a recent research project, the Rubin Observatory will discover but not give an adequate warning time for objects destined to hit the Earth. To provide time to take action to deflect an incoming object we will need to rely on...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/390e-427-meteor-whispers--70819617
© 2026. A. D. Grauer]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70819617Tue, 26 May 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerOften observers report hearing a percussive sound, like a sonic boom from an aircraft, minutes after viewing a bright meteor fireball. In addition, in a fewer number of instances, there are many reliable reports of observers hearing popping, hissing,...
© 2026. A. D. Grauer]]>121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/900-earth-life-from-mars--70819590https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70819590Fri, 22 May 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerSome of the 635,000 impact craters found on Mars are the result of such violent impacts that pieces of Mars are ejected, travel around the solar system, and a few become one of the several hundred Martian meteorites which have been discovered here on...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/389e-426-rose-rules-again--70819518
© 2026 A. D. Grauer]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70819518Tue, 19 May 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. Grauer389E-426-Rose Rules Again Recently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Rose Matheny discovered 8 new Earth approaching object candidates on a single night with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona. One of them, 2017 YO is a mile and a half...
© 2026 A. D. Grauer]]>121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/899-hitch-hiking-an-asteroid-to-mars--70819486https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70819486Fri, 15 May 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroids could provide a solution for the serious problem of how to protect astronauts from harmful solar and cosmic radiation during long duration space flights and thus eliminate the need for the spacecraft itself to have heavy shielding material....121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/388e-425-greg-s-comet--70819455© 2026. A. D. Grauer]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70819455Tue, 12 May 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard was searching for Earth approaching objects with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when he discovered an interesting new comet moving through the constellation of Leo. After Greg posted his...© 2026. A. D. Grauer]]>121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/898-pandora--70819403https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70819403Fri, 08 May 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerLooking into a star filled sky at a place like the Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary in New Mexico inspires a person to wonder if our home planet is unique in the Universe. To begin to answer this question, NASA launched the small...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/387e-424-long-winter-nights--70819357© 2026 A. D. Grauer]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70819357Tue, 05 May 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerWinter nights can be exhausting, productive, as well as sometimes frustrating for asteroid hunters. At the Sixty Inch Telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona, near winter solstice, the night's observing starts at 6:30 PM and continues till after 6 AM which...© 2026 A. D. Grauer]]>121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/897-kacper-s-comet--70819035https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70819035Fri, 01 May 2026 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2007 a small icy object moving in the constellation of Ursa Minor crossed the orbit of Pluto at a speed of approximately 4.2 mi/s starting its journey towards the inner solar system. It was between the orbits of Saturn and Jupiter traveling at some...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/386e-423-silent-et--70818969https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70818969Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerOumuamua (“Oh-moo-ah-moo-ah”) is the asteroid that zipped by the Earth on a trajectory that started beyond our solar system in truly deep space. After rounding our Sun at 97,000 mi/hr this unusual space rock will continue onward into deep interstellar...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/896-sneaky-but-potentially-dangerous--70818652https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70818652Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard was asteroid hunting with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when he came across an unknown moving point of light in the night sky. After Greg reported his observations to the Minor Planet Center...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,aviation,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/385e-421-new-aten--70071331https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70071331Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammates Carson Fuls and Greg Lenoard discovered an Aten asteroid which orbits the Sun once every 272 days and on a path that crosses the orbits of Venus and Earth a number of times each year. Atens account for only...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/895-tracking-space-junk--70071220https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70071220Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerAccording to NASA an average of one catalogued piece of space junk per day has come down to Earth over the past 50 years. Research is described which can track space junk in the atmosphere and provide the starting location and altitude for tracking...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/384e-420-dry-sands--70071195https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70071195Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe NASA Curiosity Rover has shown us evidence of ancient rivers and bodies of liquid water on the martian surface. Given it's thin cold atmosphere, seeps of liquid water, presently on the surface of Mars which are capable of hosting microbial life...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/894-discovery-night-at-the-schmidt--70071188https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70071188Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn a recent night my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Vivian Carvajal found 4 Earth approaching space rocks with our small but mighty Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona. These Earth approaching asteroids are all small with an average diameter about...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/383e-419-et-s-cigar--70071175https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70071175Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2012 as it crossed the orbit of Neptune heading towards the Sun a small space rock was 250 times fainter than can be detected by the Hubble Space Telescope. Five years later, after it had rounded the Sun, it became visible in asteroid hunter's...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,interstellar,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/893-darksky-oregon--70071167https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70071167Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerArtificial light at night also known as light pollution is degrading human safety and health as well as damaging the natural environment on which we all depend. The loss of the connection with the natural night sky has happened over the past 100...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,darksky,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/382e-418-fireball-ii--70071163https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70071163Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently there were four fireball meteors, brighter than the planet Venus, which exploded over Germany, France, Ohio, and Arizona within the space of only 10 hours. A total of 1320 individuals were treated to light shows and reported their...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,fireball,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/892-140m-asteroids--70071154https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70071154Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerHumans can mitigate the damage done by the impact of an asteroid given a sufficient lead time. In 1998, the US Congress mandated NASA to detect and track 90% of the 1 km sized asteroids capable of effecting local mass destruction as well as global...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/381e-417-red-dwarf-planets--70071140https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70071140Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAstronomers continue to be delighted when they discover an Earth sized planet. Scientists were thus very disappointed when the red dwarf star hosting the nearest such planet, Proxima b some 4.2 light years away, turns out to have the nasty habit of...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/891-2026-aa--70071093https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70071093Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Tracie Beuden was observing with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona in the constellation of Persus when she found the first asteroid of 2026. Asteroid hunters are trying to like Tracie's discovery with our...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/380e-416-odd-ball--70071088https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70071088Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe orbits of the planets are closely aligned with the extension of the Sun's equator into space and are contained within the flattened disk of material which forms the plane solar system. Most asteroids have orbits with inclinations or tilts to the...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/890-comet-467p-linear-grauer--70071076https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70071076Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAstronomers using the 8.1 m Gemini South Telescope in Chile were excited by the fact that 467P (LINEAR-Grauer)’s Centaur like orbit had been changed as the nucleus emitted rocket like bursts of gases as it was warmed by the Sun. Inert inactive...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/379e-415-well-done--70071049https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70071049Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerOnce every 1,435 days , a 780 foot diameter space rock that my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls discovered makes an annihilation defying close approach to our star. At it's nearest point to the Sun, Carson's well done space rock is traveling...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/889-lick-observatory--70070594https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70070594Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 1892 the world’s largest telescope, the Lick Observatory’s 36 inch refracting telescope made the news when E.E. Barnard discovered, Amalthea, the 5th moon of Jupiter. In 2025 this historic telescope made the news again when on Christmas morning...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/378e-414-enormous-visitor--69292829https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69292829Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerWithout additional data, the true nature of the rapidly northward moving point of light my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls had just discovered would have remained a mystery. Fortunately, this new object was tracked by telescopes in both...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/888-investigating-the-mystery-of-how-life-formed--69292826https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69292826Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn Earth living things are everywhere from the deepest ocean depths to the highest mountain tops. On our home planet RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) is a complex essential molecule involved in the process of translating genetic information into the working...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,impact,jupiter,life,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,rna,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/377e-413-fission-rocket--69292813https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69292813Tue, 24 Feb 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerTo get an idea of the energy involved in a rocket launch, the NASA Saturn V, moon rocket, fully fueled on the launch pad contained the chemical energy of 2,000 pounds of TNT. This old technology could carry us to Mars and back on missions that would...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,fission,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,nuclear,planet,rocket,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/887-apophis-bound--69292799https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69292799Fri, 20 Feb 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn April 2029 on one of the luckiest Friday the 13th in human history the 1500 ft by 500 ft asteroid Apophis will pass within 23,600 miles of the Earth’s surface traveling at some 4.6 mi/s. This is extremely fortunate since an Apophis impact would...121alien,apophis,asteroid,astronomy,bennu,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/376e-412-tiny-space-rock--69292797https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69292797Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerEighteen hours before my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Rose Matheny first spotted a small space rock with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona it had passed less than the Earth's diameter from the surface of our planet. Rose was able to...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/886-aviation-space-weather--69292775https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69292775Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Earth’s atmosphere does a good job of protecting humanity from space weather, however, occasionally a major event does break through our shield and gets our attention. Tree rings and ice cores have recorded past space weather events thousands of...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/375e-410-extraterrestrial-whales--69292760https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69292760Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn an area which is about 1/400th of the entire sky, the NASA Kepler spacecraft has discovered 30 Earth like planets which are likely to have liquid water on their surfaces orbiting distant stars. These planets are likely to represent a tiny sample of...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/885-dark-sky-network--69292741https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69292741Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAround the world those who value the natural night sky are evaluating the effects of light pollution. In addition to impairing astronomy and star gazing the past 100 years of increasing light pollution is proving to be harmful to human health and the...121alan,alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,lightpollution,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/374e-408-earth-s-pet-rock--69292737https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69292737Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn it's gravitational leash, Earth's pet space rock, 2016 HO3, accompanies us at a distance of between 38 and 100 times the Moon's distance from Earth as we both travel about the Sun. As this tiny asteroid orbits the Sun it spends about half of it's...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/884-turkeys-and-asteroids--69292731https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69292731Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerSince in its early history the Earth’s surface was hot and lifeless it is likely that asteroids formed in the same era as Bennu delivered the raw materials for life when they impacted our home planet long ago121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/373e-407-plant-companionship--69292725https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69292725Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn Earth, human life is enabled by plants which provide us with calories, vitamins, fuel, medicines, and oxygen to breathe. In addition, recent scientific studies indicate that plant cultivation reduces anxiety and depression and has a positive...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/883-theia--69292715https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69292715Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the distant past things in our solar system were very much more wild and violent than they are today. 4.5 billion years ago a Mars sized object called Theia impacted Earth producing our Moon. Scientists are able research this event using the...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/372e-406-close-ones--69292709https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69292709Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn less than 24 hours, while observing with the Catalina Sky Survey's 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona , I discovered two 25 foot diameter space rocks that theoretically can pass less than a quarter of the Moon's distance from us. After I...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/882-david-s-goliath-pha--69292693https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69292693Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate David Rankin was asteroid hunting in the evening twilight with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon Arizona when he spotted an unknown object in the constellation of Lyra. The largest telescopes on Earth will likely...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/371e-405-kiwi-nights--69292670https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69292670Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerNew Zealand's 4.5 million people are concentrated in three major population centers which to various degrees suffer from the modern plague of light pollution. However, most of New Zealand's large rural areas and land reserves, covering an area as...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/881-dangerous-comets--69244174https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69244174Fri, 09 Jan 2026 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt is possible the object creating the Tunguska event in Russia 1908 which knocked down 80 million trees over an area about twice the size of New York City was a fragment of a comet or asteroid. The International Asteroid Warning Network 2025 campaign...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/370e-403-double-comet--68708361https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68708361Tue, 06 Jan 2026 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn November of 2006, University of Arizona's Spacewatch astronomers on Kitt Peak discovered a faint moving point of light in the night sky which appeared to be a garden variety main belt asteroid orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. The Minor...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/882-david-s-goliath-pha--68708134https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68708134Fri, 02 Jan 2026 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate David Rankin was asteroid hunting in the evening twilight with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon Arizona when he spotted an unknown object in the constellation of Lyra. The largest telescopes on Earth will likely...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/369e-401-night-vision--68708098https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68708098Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerMany people in our modern world rarely if ever experience night vision. To achieve this interesting state of sensory awareness you cannot look at your cell phone or any other source of bright light for 30 to 45 minutes. Your night vision comes about...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/881-dangerous-comets--68708024https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68708024Fri, 26 Dec 2025 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt is possible the object creating the Tunguska event in Russia 1908 which knocked down 80 million trees over an area about twice the size of New York City was a fragment of a comet or asteroid. The International Asteroid Warning Network 2025 campaign...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/368e-400-roving-venus--68708016https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68708016Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerVenus and Earth are similar in size, composition, density, and mass. Unfortunately, our sister planet Venus is an example of a place where green house gases have created an extreme situation. Venus's thick carbon dioxide atmosphere has a surface...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/880-carrington-anticipated--68707998https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68707998Fri, 19 Dec 2025 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerJust before noon on September 1st of 1859 Richard Carrington and Richard Hodgson were making sketches of clusters of sunspots when they were nearly blinded by an intense solar flare. 17.6 hours later a geomagnetic storm thought to be caused by a solar...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,solarflare,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/367e-399-moons-of-florence--68707985https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68707985Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerDr Lance Benner of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory headed up a team of scientists who used the 70 meter antenna at NASA's Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex to bounce RADAR beams off of the asteroid Florence as it made a close approach to...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/879-lurking-asteroid--68707967https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68707967Fri, 12 Dec 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Dark Energy Camera on the National Science Foundation’s Blanco 4-meter telescope on Cerro Tololo in Chile is taking near Sun twilight images to search for asteroids, hidden in the glare of our Sun, sneaking up on home planet.121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/366e-398-mars-rocks--68707960https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68707960Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerAt about 2AM on July 18, 2011 several people in near Tata, Morocco saw a bright fireball which was described by one of them to be initially yellow, then turned green, and finally exploded into several pieces producing two sonic booms. In October of...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/878-comet-fragment--68707924https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68707924Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Vivian Carvajal was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Eridanus with the 90 inch, University of Arizona’s Bok telescope on Kitt Peak when she was treated to an amazing sight. Comet COMET 240P/NEAT with a small...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/365e-397-spotting-meteors--68039283https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68039283Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerMeteors, shooting stars, or falling stars are different names for the streaks of light in the night sky which are in reality the dying embers of tiny asteroids. These small interplanetary travelers were speeding along at between 7 and 44 miles per...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/877-close-grazer--68039256https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68039256Fri, 28 Nov 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn a busy night of asteroid hunting with the 90 inch, University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory Bok telescope on Kitt Peak in Arizona, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Vivian Carvajal discovered 13 new Earth approaching objects. One of them now known...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/364e-396-jupiter--68039240https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68039240Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerJupiter has been observed throughout human history and is so bright that you can even spot it under the artificial light dome of one of our cities. Even so it is less than 40 years ago that we were first able to view Jupiter in detail as the Voyagers...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/876-neighborhood-traffic-9-28-25-6-28-pm--68039144https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68039144Fri, 21 Nov 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn a recent 60 day period asteroid hunters tracked 24 space rocks which came closer than our Moon. My team the University of Arizona’s Catalina Sky Survey operates 5 telescopes in the mountains around Tucson, Arizona. Our goal is to find objects like...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/363e-395-house-sized-space-rocks--68039135https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68039135Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerThroughout history small close approaching space rocks have been a part of our environment. Now, thanks to improved telescopes and cameras, asteroid hunters are routinely discovering these small asteroids as they pass closer than the Moon is to us....121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/875-newly-discovered-crater-9-28-25-6-13-pm--68039074https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68039074Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerDr Uisdean Nicholson from Heriot-Watt University and his team of 9 co-authors analyze 3D seismic imaging and drill cuttings from a 1980s oil well to make a convincing case that the Silverpit crater was produced by a the impact of a 1.5 football field...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/362e-394-tiny-beasts--68039060https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68039060Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerHumans have a long history of partnerships with a variety of micro organisms. Although the proportions vary widely with individuals, recent scientific estimates suggest that a typical human being has approximately the same number of bacteria and other...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/874-good-night-at-bok--68039053https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68039053Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn a recent clear night my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Hannes Groller was asteroid hunting with the Steward Observatory 90 inch Bok telescope on Kitt Peak, Arizona when he discovered 8 natural visitors to our neighborhood. Telescopes around the world...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/361e-393-newest-moon--68039030https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68039030Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe moon cycle from new moon through full moon and back to new moon again was used by many nations to regulate their activities and forms the basis of the Islamic lunar calendar. A calendar based on the first visibility of the lunar crescent is...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/873-tracking-3i-atlas--68034350https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68034350Fri, 31 Oct 2025 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerScientists are using many approaches to understanding the nature and history of 3I/Atlas the third known interstellar traveler in the night. At a hyperbolic velocity of 130,000 mph it is the fastest interstellar visitor ever measured.121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/360e-391-finding-spacerocks--67768898https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67768898Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerFinding a meteorite that has traveled billions of miles through space to reach it's present location is exciting. It might even be worth real money.121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/872-climate-ignored--67768858https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67768858Fri, 24 Oct 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerObtaining accurate data on the Earth’s climate and how it is changing is vital to inform agriculture , insurance risks, business planning, disaster preparedness, financial investments, wild fire mitigation, and national security. The USA should not be...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/359e-390-one-in-100-000--67768809https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67768809Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerFriday the 13th appears to continue to be a lucky day for the human race. When astronomers first discovered Apophis in 2004 it appeared possible that this 3 million ton, 1,200 foot diameter asteroid traveling at 8 mi/s could impact our planet creating...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/871-new-mars-trojan--67768781https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67768781Fri, 17 Oct 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Lagrange point L4 is 60° ahead of Mars whereas L5 is 60° behind Mars on the red planet’s orbital path about the Sun. An object placed at either of these locations is trapped gravitationally and is likely to remain there indefinitely. The Mars L4...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/358e-389-tiny-spacecraft--67768727https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67768727Tue, 14 Oct 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerTo reach the vicinity of the nearest star, 24 trillion miles away, in less than 20 years, an interstellar space probe would have to travel at a substantial fraction of the speed of light. Newton's laws of motion, published 300 years ago, predict that...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/870-satellite-ashes--67768687https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67768687Fri, 10 Oct 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. Grauer50 years ago scientists found that Chlorofluorocarbons or CFC chemicals in widespread use in refrigeration, air conditioning , and hair spray were beginning to damage the ozone layer in the Earth’s stratosphere which blocks harmful Solar UVB radiation...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/357e-388-40-years--67768659https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67768659Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerLooking at the stars on a clear dark night, far from the artificial air glow humanity creates, have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel in truly deep interstellar space? 40 years after their launches in 1977, your representatives, the...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/869-taurid-resonant-swarm--67768589https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67768589Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe planets, millions of asteroids, tens of thousands of comets, distant icy worlds, and countless other bits and pieces of material orbit the Sun. A group of such co-orbiting objects is called the Taurid complex or swarm. It consists of Comet...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/356e-386-interplanetary-sand-traps--67768543https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67768543Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa [Hi ya Boo sa] visited the near Earth asteroid Itokawa in 2005 it found this 2000 foot by 800 foot elliptical world to have a variety of surface features. Instead of being a solid object like some asteroids,...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/868-inside-venus--67768458https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67768458Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerAstronomers have discovered some 1.4 million asteroids.  Approximately 35,000 of these space rocks come near Earth.  Less than 40 of them are classified as being Atira asteroids whose orbits lie entirely within the Earth’s orbit about the Sun. Only...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/355e-383-moon-water--67337968https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67337968Tue, 23 Sep 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe lunar roving, battery powered, 4 wheel drive "Moon Buggy" allowed astronauts on Apollo 15, 16, and 17 to travel 8 mph on the lunar surface with a maximum range of approximately 4.7 mi. Some of the rocks that these space travelers brought back,...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/867-daytime-fireball--67337953https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67337953Fri, 19 Sep 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerDr. Bill Cooke of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office reports that on June 26, 2025 shortly after noon a beachball sized meteoroid traveling at approximately 30,000 miles per hour broke up about 27 miles above the town of West Forrest, Georgia.121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/354e-382-martian-debris--67337938https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67337938Tue, 16 Sep 2025 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerMartian Trojan asteroids have stable orbits around the Sun, leading and trailing the red planet by 60 degrees, where the Sun's and Mars's gravity are balanced. For some time astronomers have considered it unlikely that these asteroids wandered in from...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/866-interstellar-visitor--67337925https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67337925Fri, 12 Sep 2025 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerAmazingly, nature occasionally sends an interstellar traveler through our solar system for us to observe. The third such object that astronomers have discovered coming into our solar system from truly deep space is 3I/ATLAS. It was discovered as it...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/353e-381-peaceful-star--67337900https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67337900Tue, 09 Sep 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. Grauer The Sun is our very own well behaved star. It rises and sets in our sky every day and powers and makes possible all life forms on planet Earth. A new appreciation for our Sun is growing as we learn more about other suns and their families of planets....121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/865-new-potentially-hazardous-asteroid--67337876https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67337876Fri, 05 Sep 2025 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn a a short June night my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard was observing with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona in the constellation of Ursa Major when a relatively bright fast moving point of light appeared in a set of his...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/352e-379-flying-mud-balls--66886262https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66886262Tue, 02 Sep 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. Grauer75% of asteroid hunter's discoveries are called C type asteroids. They are dark, have a high abundance of carbon, consist of clay and silicate rocks, and may have a composition which is up to 22% water. Recently Dr. Phillip A. Bland of Curtin...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/864-lunar-debris--66886040https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66886040Fri, 29 Aug 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid 2024 YR4 will not hit the Earth in 2032, has a 4% chance of hitting the moon, and most likely will pass within 900 miles of the lunar surface. If 2024 YR4 were to impact the Moon it could send about the mass of several small cargo ships into...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/351e-376-active-asteroids--66886025https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66886025Tue, 26 Aug 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen it was first spotted by astronomers at Space Watch on Kitt Peak, 2008 GO98 appeared to be one of many outer main belt asteroids moving through the night sky. 9 years later when my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard observed it with our 60...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/863-space-elevator--66885989https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66885989Fri, 22 Aug 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn a recent study Dr. Lynnane George and her co-authors investigate Space Elevator technology to remove materials from Ceres and deliver them to orbital depots around the solar system.  The tiny gravity of Ceres, nano-fiber technology, and different...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/350e-374-brute--66885964https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66885964Tue, 19 Aug 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski discovered a 0.4 mile diameter asteroid with the Catalina Sky Survey Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, AZ. Two hours and 11 minutes later it came into a set images I obtained with the 60 inch...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/862-new-planet-9-search--66885918https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66885918Fri, 15 Aug 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently, using data from the Japanese infrared telescope AKARI,  Dr. Amos Y.A. Chen and his collaborators published a paper in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia which predicts the approximate positions of two massive Planet 9...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/349e-372-trappist-1-planets--66696126https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66696126Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Trappist-1 planetary system located about 40 light years away in the constellation of Aquarius consists of a small red dwarf star and 7 Earth sized planets. By carefully studying changes in the planet's transit timings and the shape of the dip in...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/861-big-bear-observatory--66696092https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66696092Fri, 08 Aug 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerBig Bear Solar Observatory is a unique facility operated by the New Jersey Institute of Technology.  Its 1.6 meter Goode Solar Telescope is located on the north side of Big Bear Lake at an elevation of 6,760 feet above sea level in the  San Bernardino...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/348e-371-2-headed-space-worm--66696010https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66696010Tue, 05 Aug 2025 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerHumans are moving towards a day when there are space colonies in orbit, on the Moon, and the planet Mars, places where the force of gravity ranges between zero and 38% of what we experience every day. What effect will such different environments have...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/860-worlds-largest-solar-telescope--66695962https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66695962Fri, 01 Aug 2025 16:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe US National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope is the worlds largest solar telescope. It is perched 10,000 feet  above sea level on the top of Haleakalā on the Hawaiian island Maui.   Its location and 4 meter mirror enables the...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/347e-370-life-s-parts--66695915https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66695915Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. Grauer24 hours a day, 16,600 feet above sea level in the high dry desert of northern Chile, the 66 antennas of 1.4 billion dollar Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array or ALMA receives signals located between the infrared and radio portions of the...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/859-powerful-solar-storm--66695858https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66695858Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerAfter the Earth the Sun is the most important object for human beings in the Universe.  It is the energy source which produces our food and is the source for all of the energy and motion around us except for geothermal and nuclear energy sources. The...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/346e-369-finding-treasure--66283717https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66283717Tue, 22 Jul 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe energy required to lift water, food, and construction materials from the Earth's surface is very expensive. Asteroids come relatively close to Earth and could provide space colonists with metals, carbon, water, and the other important ingredients...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/858-vanishing-dark-and-quiet--66283651https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66283651Fri, 18 Jul 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerSadly humans seem to be in the process of creating a cosmic land fill which will blot out much of the cosmos.121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/345e-368-asteroid-alert--66283606https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66283606Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen Asteroid hunters discover a new object it is given a score ranging from 0 which means it is likely to be a distant main belt asteroid up to 100 which means that it is likely to come near to us. Each newly discovered asteroid which receives a...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/857-gila-cliff-dwellings--66283520https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66283520Fri, 11 Jul 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Dr. Hannes Gröller and I traveled to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument to install two night sky meters which will enable this wonderful national treasure to become an international dark sky park....121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/344e-367-future-impactor--66283496https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66283496Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls discovered a 33 foot diameter asteroid which has about a 1.1% chance of impacting the Earth on 569 encounters with our planet between 2045 and 2116. Its name is 2017 LD. It is on the list of the most likely...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/856-big-one--66276203https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66276203Fri, 04 Jul 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Vivian Carvajal was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Cepheus with our small but mighty Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona when she discovered 2025 JB1.Fortunately on its current path there is zero...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/343e-366-3-explorers--65646328https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65646328Tue, 01 Jul 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently, my Grandsons, Dane and Hank joined our asteroid hunting team at the Catalina Sky Survey 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon. The most interesting of our discoveries, 2017 KJ32 is only 16 feet in diameter, orbits the Sun once every 315 days, and...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/855-planetary-defense--65646308https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65646308Fri, 27 Jun 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2016 NASA created the Planetary Defense Coordination Office to manage the mission of finding, tracking, and studying asteroids and comets which could pose an impact threat to our home planet.The NASA documentary “Planetary Defenders” provides an...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/342e-365-tabby-s-star--65646300https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65646300Tue, 24 Jun 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe mystery of Tabby's star began to unfold when in 2015 Dr. Tabetha S. Boyajian [boy-AA-jee-uhn] of Louisiana State University and her team published a paper describing the irregular dips in the light output of what otherwise would seem to be a...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/854-weird-planet-exotic-life--65646291https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65646291Fri, 20 Jun 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerData are consistent with the hypothesis that the planet K2-18b is a Hycean planet with a warm liquid water ocean teaming with life and a thin hydrogen rich atmosphere containing methane and other molecules containing carbon. Scientists in an opposing...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/341e-364-laser-surfing--65646279https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65646279Tue, 17 Jun 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen we find a planet which appears to have the chemical signs of living organisms in its atmosphere, the desire to take a close up look at it will be hard to contain. In a Scientific American article, Lee Billings describes Yuri Milner's 100 million...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/853-tardigrade--65646276https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65646276Fri, 13 Jun 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the search for life on Mars, Europa, Titan, and elsewhere in the universe astro-biologists are scouring the Earth for creatures tough enough to flourish under really difficult conditions. So far the leading species are the Tardigrades commonly...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/852-landing-on-mars--65646260https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65646260Fri, 06 Jun 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe good news is a Mars landing by human colonists and their equipment seems technically feasible given a large budget of cash and grit.121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/339e-359-ice-world--65646252https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65646252Tue, 03 Jun 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently Dr. Yossi Shvartzvald led a team which published their discovery of an Earth sized planet using microlensing in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. The newly discovered planet OGLE-2016-BLG-1195Lb orbits a small dim object about 13,000 light...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/851-scientists-views-odds-of-aliens--65646234https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65646234Fri, 30 May 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn a recent paper published in Nature Astronomy entitled “Surveys of the scientific community on the existence of extraterrestrial life”  Dr. Peter Vickers and his team of 10 co-authors report the results  of their survey of the lead authors for the...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/338e-357-double-trouble--65646230https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65646230Tue, 27 May 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen I discovered 2014 JO25 with the NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey's 60 inch telescope on May 5, 2014, it appeared as a single point of light as it moved past us. As 2014 JO25 approached the Earth from the direction of the Sun in 2017, no-one had...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/850-who-owns-a-space-rock--65646203https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65646203Fri, 23 May 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerSince there is a world wide market for meteorites some of which can be sold for millions of dollars, on line, the question of ownership becomes important. 121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/337e-356-seeds--65258897https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65258897Tue, 20 May 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen a fleet of interstellar spaceships leaves our solar system for a planet circling a nearby star the most important of all of the riches that human explorers will carry with them will be libraries of our planet's DNA and the seeds of plants. They...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,seeds,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/849-europa-clipper--65258799https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65258799Fri, 16 May 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerNASA’s Europa Clipper was launched October 14, 2024 on a mission to conduct a detailed study of Jupiter’s Moon Europa.  The space craft will travel some 1.8 billion miles and should reach Jupiter in April 2030.  This mission will begin to tell us if...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/336e-355-2-suns--65258763https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65258763Tue, 13 May 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe NASA Kepler Spacecraft has discovered more than 2,000 planets which have been confirmed to be orbiting distant stars. It performs this remarkable feat by imaging more than 145,000 stars simultaneously to observe and measure the tiny dips in light...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/848-c-2024-e1-wierzchos--65258717https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65258717Fri, 09 May 2025 16:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn March 3, 2024 my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Kacper Wierzchos was asteroid hunting with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when he spotted a fuzzy object in the constellation of Draco.  After Kacper reported his discovery to the Minor...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/335e-354-returnee--65050389https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65050389Tue, 06 May 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn May 5, 2014 when I discovered 2014 JO25 with the Catalina Sky Survey's 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona it was the brightest, fastest asteroid I had ever seen. In April of 2017, 2014 JO25 returned to come within 1.1 million miles of us at...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/847-ultra-distant-comet--65050373https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65050373Fri, 02 May 2025 16:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Hannes Gröller was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Ursa Major with the University of Arizona 90 inch Bok telescope on Kitt Peak when he discovered a faint moving object surrounded by a tiny gas and dust cloud...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/334e-353-backwards--65050361https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65050361Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerUsing the University of Arizona's Large Binocular Telescope atop Mt. Graham in southern Arizona, Dr. Paul Wiegert of Western University in Canada, led a team of astronomers who have determined that a 2 mile diameter object bucks the solar system...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/846-bright-nights--65050318https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65050318Fri, 25 Apr 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerOne little known and infrequently observed phenomenon in the natural night sky are “bright nights” during which observers have reported being able to read a book  when both the Sun and Moon are both well below the horizon.  121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/333e-352-worth-tracking--65050299https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65050299Tue, 22 Apr 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard was observing with our team's 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon in Arizona when he discovered a relatively large space rock, 2017 FD157, which can theoretically come closer to the Earth's surface than the...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/845-mighty-schmidt--65050280https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65050280Fri, 18 Apr 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn a single February night my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Jacqui Fazekas reported  the discovery of 5 Earth approaching objects using our small but mighty Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona.Rest assured that on any given night there are...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/332e-351-another-close-one--65050266https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65050266Tue, 15 Apr 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid hunters have become aware of the many small space rocks which come near Earth because of improvements made to telescopes, cameras, and computer analysis software. Recently, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Rose Matheny used her skills and a...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/844-global-meteor-network--65050191https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65050191Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerAs the Earth travels in its orbit around the Sun it collides with objects called meteoroids traveling through space.  These tiny members of the solar system range in size from dust grains to objects a meter in diameter.By becoming part of the GMN’s...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/331e-350-asteroid-defense--65049955https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65049955Tue, 08 Apr 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2013 a 56 foot diameter space rock exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia releasing the energy of 450 kt of TNT and filled local hospitals with some of the 1,500 people who were injured. Fortunately no one died. In 1908 a 200 ft diameter meteor exploded...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/843-possible-impactor--64966738https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64966738Fri, 04 Apr 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn 27 December 2024 the Atlas group in Chile discovered an object now known as 2024 YR4 which appeared to have a significant chance of impacting Earth 22 December of 2032. The most recent data indicates the chance that 2024 YR4 impact Earth is about 1...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/330e-349-big-and-fast--64966694https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64966694Tue, 01 Apr 2025 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerI was observing with the Catalina Sky Survey 60 inch telescope on Mt Lemmon, Arizona when a fast moving object appeared on a set of four images of the same area of the night sky. After I sent the discovery observations to the Minor Planet Center this...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/842-tesla-recovered--64966645After Greg reported his observations to the Minor Planet Center for the next 10 days it was tracked by observatories in Arizona, Italy, Hawaii, Australia, and Argentina.  Citizen scientist H. A. Güler analyzed these data.  The Minor Planet Center published the discovery of the near Earth asteroid 2018 CN41. The discovery was deleted when the object turned out to be a Falcon Heavy Rocket Upper stage with a Tesla roadster attached.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64966645Fri, 28 Mar 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Hydra with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona when a fast moving unknown point of light passed through a set of his images. After Greg reported his...After Greg reported his observations to the Minor Planet Center for the next 10 days it was tracked by observatories in Arizona, Italy, Hawaii, Australia, and Argentina.  Citizen scientist H. A. Güler analyzed these data.  The Minor Planet Center published the discovery of the near Earth asteroid 2018 CN41. The discovery was deleted when the object turned out to be a Falcon Heavy Rocket Upper stage with a Tesla roadster attached.]]>121astronomy,earth,falcon,mars,space,spacexfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/329e-348-16--64443132https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64443132Tue, 25 Mar 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerA clear night with excellent pinpoint star images allowed me to discover 16 near Earth approaching asteroid candidates with the Catalina Sky Survey 60 inch telescope on Mt Lemmon, Arizona. This 9 hr period of time provides us with a snap shot of the...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/841-moon-fragment--64443124https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64443124Fri, 21 Mar 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerAstronomers have yet to discover any long lasting natural object, beside our Moon, which orbits the Earth, however, occasionally, a small space rock enters into a temporary dance with our home planet. 121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/328e-347-your-space-rock--64443118https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64443118Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerIf you are luckier than a hundred million dollar power ball winner you will see your space rock as a meteor streaking across the sky, fall to the ground, and land in a place where can you walk over and pick it up. On the other hand, with more...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/840-lunar-south-pole-living--64443099https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64443099Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerNASA has decided to make the lunar south pole the focus for human space exploration.  It is a rough area consisting of  high mountains, valleys, and craters.One serious problem is that the highest possible elevation of the Sun in the target landing...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/327e-346-arctic-ice--64443091https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64443091Tue, 11 Mar 2025 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerEliminating NASA's climate research programs is a bit like someone who has a CT scan which reveals a health problem demanding that the CT scan machine be destroyed instead of looking for a cure for themselves. On March 7, 2017 the Arctic Sea ice...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,climatechamge,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/839-dodged-a-meteor--64442873https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64442873Fri, 07 Mar 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently , for the first time, the sight and sound of a meteor impact was recorded by a doorbell camera on Prince Edward Island, Canada.  Fortunately the event occurred a few minutes after Joe Velaidum the home’s owner had been standing at the impact...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/326e-345-364days--63582334https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63582334Tue, 04 Mar 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard was using the University of Arizona's 60 inch telescope atop Mt. Lemmon when he discovered a 50 foot diameter asteroid with an orbital period around the Sun of 364.4 days. After the discovery observations...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/838-webb-asteroid-discoveries--63582324https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63582324Fri, 28 Feb 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerUsing high powered graphics processing units, a team of 21 astronomers led by Dr. Artem Y. Burdanov of MIT used 93 hours of data from the James Webb Space Telescope or JWST for short to serendipitously search for asteroids which happened to be present...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,jwst,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venus,weather,webbfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/325e-344-gnats--63582316https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63582316Tue, 25 Feb 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerNear Earth Asteroids or NEAs which are accessible are those objects whose orbits bring them close to Earth at speeds which are reachable by our rockets. They are potential space mission targets for science as well as for asteroid mining to obtain the...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/837-weird-extraterrestrial-life--63582306https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63582306Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerWe will continue to search for life as we know it by studying the chemistry of the atmospheres of extraterrestrial planets and trying to detect signals from alien civilizations while being aware that alien life could be so weird that it is unrecognizable 121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,life,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/836-jacqui-s-comet--63582289https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63582289Fri, 14 Feb 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Jacqueline Fazekas was asteroid hunting with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when she spotted a glowing patch of light moving through the constellation of Cancer.By discovering her first comet Jacqui became...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/323e-342-that-s-close--63582270https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63582270Tue, 11 Feb 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard discovered an asteroid, 2017 EA, which is so tiny that it could pass under a basketball hoop. It missed exploding in our atmosphere by only about 9,000 miles as it streaked between the communications...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/835-bok-impactor--63582257https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63582257Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Vivian Carvajal was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Aries with the Steward Observatory 90 inch Bok telescope on Kitt Peak, Arizona when she spotted a fast moving point of light in a set of her images. Nearly 10...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/322e-341-ballooning-to-space--63582246https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63582246Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerTo travel to the edge of space you can strap yourself into a capsule and ride atop of a carefully controlled explosion or you can enter a crew capsule and be gently lifted by a balloon into the stratosphere. Unlike a suborbital rocket flight lasting...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/834-dark-comets--63582234https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63582234Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerFrom our vantage point on planet Earth asteroids appear as moving points of light which strictly follow the law of gravity as they orbit the Sun. On the other hand comets appear as gas clouds which sometimes deviate from their gravitational orbits...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/321e-340-carson-s-comet--63582192https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63582192Tue, 28 Jan 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy team was excited when our Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls discovered his first comet, C/2017 D1 (Fuls), when it was traveling between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter about 257 million miles from Earth. It is classified as a Jupiter Family...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/833-will-asteroid-mining-payoff--63582175https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63582175Fri, 24 Jan 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the journal Planetary and Space Science Dr. Kevin Cannon and his two coauthors analyze the potential of asteroid mining as a source of metals for manufacturing here on Earth as well as a repository of raw materials for space colonists.These authors...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,satellite,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/320e-339-no-need-to-smile--63582152https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63582152Tue, 21 Jan 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe company Planet's, Dove satellites may not be spot you looking up, smiling, and waving when you are in the great outdoors but they could detect a car in your driveway.121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,spaceweather,spysatellite,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/832-backyard-comet--63582112https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63582112Fri, 17 Jan 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate David Rankin has discovered 13 comets using our team’s professional telescopes. Recently he discovered a 14th comet as an amateur using a small, 11 inch telescope in his backyard Saguaro Observatory in Tucson, AZ. 121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,trojans.,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/319e-338-psyche-bound--63155123https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63155123Tue, 14 Jan 2025 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen the material came together to form our home planet, gravity was strong enough to pull the heavy materials like iron to the center, giving our planet an iron core. The vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of known asteroids and comets...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,trojans.,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/831-finding-dangerous-comets--63155090https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63155090Fri, 10 Jan 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerMeteor shower data can provide an additional warning time for a potentially dangerous comet of from 1 to 12 years giving humans extra time to determine and carry out mitigation strategies.121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,trojans,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/318e-337-lucy--63155072https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63155072Tue, 07 Jan 2025 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerJupiter's Trojan asteroids lead and follow the giant planet around the Sun occupying stable locations where Jupiter and the Sun's gravity balance each other. Humans have discovered only a tiny fraction of the million of them larger than one kilometer...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,trojans,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/830-imaging-alien-worlds--63155057https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63155057Fri, 03 Jan 2025 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerThrough out history humans have dreamed about living creatures on planets orbiting distant stars. As technology has improved and our robotic missions have begun exploring our solar system in some detail the aspiration to learn about alien solar...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/317e-336-meteorite-mystery--63148644https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63148644Tue, 31 Dec 2024 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerA research expedition to near the south pole is developing to investigate a meteorite mystery. Meteorites landing on the Antarctica ice sheet are slowly transported along by ice flows until they are dumped into the ocean or up against a mountain...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/829-space-weather-and-national-security--63148607https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63148607Fri, 27 Dec 2024 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Sun emits a solar wind of charged particles reaching speeds of more than a million miles per hour, bursts of energetic ultraviolet photons, huge blobs of ionized gas called coronal mass ejections and other phenomena which effect the near Earth...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,spaceweather,sun,telescope,venus,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/316e-335-dart--62597938https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62597938Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerA stony asteroid 130m or about 430 feet in diameter has a mass of 3 billion Kg or 6.5 billion pounds. Such an object is likely to strike the Earth every 11,000 years or so creating a crater a mile in diameter crater and inflicting damage over a...121falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/828-alive-with-light--62597926https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62597926Fri, 20 Dec 2024 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerMost humans live in cities under a dome of light pollution. They have never witnessed that the natural night sky is not dark; but rather it is alive with it's own lights.To see for yourself, pick a natural night sky location near you like the Cosmic...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/315e-334-last-19-hours--62597915https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62597915Tue, 17 Dec 2024 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. Grauer2008 TC3 was discovered by my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski on October 6, 2008. It is the first of only 9 asteroids which humans have tracked traveling through space, have seen exploding in our atmosphere, and have been able walk up to...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/827-meteor-parents--62597902https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62597902Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerOne of the joys of visiting a natural night sky location on a clear dark of the Moon night is to observe meteors streaking across the sky. It took more than 2,000 years for humans to figure out at meteors and comets are related.121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/314e-333-whoppers--62597896https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62597896Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently, my Catalina Team Captain Eric Christensen discovered a potentially hazardous 3,000 foot diameter asteroid, 2017 CH1. Asteroid hunters are discovering less than one asteroid of this size or greater per month. Eric's discovery, 2017 CH1, has...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/826-ants-and-asteroids--62597868https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62597868Fri, 06 Dec 2024 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerAbout 66 million years ago a 6 to 9 mile diameter asteroid traveling at approximately 12 miles per second slammed into the Gulf of Mexico off of the modern coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Ants survived, flourished, and developed...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/313e-332-greg-s-destination--62597850https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62597850Tue, 03 Dec 2024 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerA winter storm hit Mt. Lemmon, Arizona closing access to the observatory by blowing over trees and producing large snow drifts. After the Mountain Operations Crew cleared the road, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard was able to make his way...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/825-backyard-asteroid-discovery--62597834https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62597834Fri, 29 Nov 2024 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate David Rankin’s regular job is asteroid hunting at the telescope and creating software to improve detection as well as to better keep track of space rocks that come near our home planet. During his time off, in his...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/312e-331-space-salsa--62597805https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62597805Tue, 26 Nov 2024 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerIf Lunar and Martian colonists are to have chips and salsa they will need grow their own tomatoes. To test methods to do this German Aerospace Center or DLR has developed the EU:CROPIS satellite which will be launched by a Space-X Falcon 9 rocket into...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/824-catalina-near-earth-comet--62597791https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62597791Fri, 22 Nov 2024 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Kacper Wierzchos was asteroid hunting with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona when he discovered and reported a fuzzy looking unknown object in a set of his images. There is no chance of an impact from...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/311e-330-comet-johnson--62597778https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62597778Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerComet C2/2015 V2 Johnson was discovered by my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Jess Johnson on November 3, 2015. It travels on a hyperbolic path around the Sun which is highly inclined to the plane where the planets and most of the asteroids travel....121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/823-jacqui-s-impactor--62597765https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62597765Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Jacqueline Fazekas was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Aquarius with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon Arizona when she discovered a tiny asteroid which would impact the Earth in about 10 hours.121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/310e-329-near-neighbor--61748162https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61748162Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls was using the new hundred million pixel camera on our team's Schmidt telescope located on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona, when he discovered 2017 AG13. It passes near the Earth's orbit twice a year on its own 345 day...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/822-dark-matter-and-alien-beings--61748127https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61748127Fri, 08 Nov 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn a recent paper published in the International Journal of Astrobiology, a philosopher Dr. Vojin Rakić (voyin rack itch) reviews some 50 or so proposed solutions to Fermi’s paradox, including, that human life is so exceptional that it happened only...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/309e-328-the-heat-is-on--61747891https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61747891Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has published an extensive data based review, analysis, and summary of the Earth's Climate. 2016 was hotter than 2015 which was hotter than 2014. 2016 is the warmest year the Earth has been in the...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,globalwarming,jupiter,mars,meteor meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,noao,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/821-dinosaur-killing-asteroid--61747293https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61747293Fri, 01 Nov 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerScientific results are consistent with the hypothesis that the dinosaur killing, K-T layer forming Chicxulub impactor came from well beyond Jupiter while the other 5 impactors in the past 541 million years as well as most meteorites found on Earth...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,dinosaur,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/308e-327-suddenly-bright--61746510https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61746510Tue, 29 Oct 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn example that a relatively large space rock can approach the Earth suddenly started with what appeared as a bright star moving across the images that I had just obtained with the Catalina Sky Survey's 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona. It was...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/820-4015-wilson-harrington-1979-va--61746476https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61746476Fri, 25 Oct 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. Grauer4015 Wilson-Harrington (1979 VA) was discovered as a comet by Wilson and Harrington in 1949, lost to astronomers for 30 years, and rediscovered in 1979 as an asteroid named 1979 VA. In 1992 with more data it was determined that comet Wilson-Harrington...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/307e-326-asteroids-2016--61746467https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61746467Tue, 22 Oct 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. Grauer2016 was another record year for asteroid hunters during which we discovered 1,894 new Earth approaching objects. My team, the NASA funded, Catalina Sky Survey, led the pack with 931 Near Earth Asteroid discoveries.121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/819-binary-asteroids--61745810https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61745810Fri, 18 Oct 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerBinary asteroids are important since they enable astronomers to study how objects interact in space and in some cases the data can even yield their sizes and shapes.121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/306e-325-marrakech--61072019https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61072019Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerA location 9,000 feet above sea level in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco is ideal for an asteroid hunter since the weather is often clear and the skies are dark. It was thus intriguing for me to see that a new asteroid discovery was posted from J43...121alien.,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/818-historical-near-earth-comets--61072001https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61072001Fri, 11 Oct 2024 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerApproximately once every 45 million years a long period comet strikes the Earth with catastrophic results.  Astronomers have identified and calculated orbits for more than 25 comets which have passed less than 40 times the Moon’s distance from us...121alien.,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/305e-324-newborn-planets--61071993https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61071993Tue, 08 Oct 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe ALMA radio telescope located in the Atacama desert of northern Chile is able to see the faint millimeter wave length glow emitted by gas molecules and dust particles in the disk of material surrounding the very young star named HD 163296. This...121alien.,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,planet,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/817-interstellar-travelers-in-the-night--61071950https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61071950Fri, 04 Oct 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAs astronomers learned to measure the distance to the stars and how the laws of Physics works with rockets, it seemed that travel between the stars would take so much energy and time to get there that interstellar travel is a remote possibility at...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor meteorite,meteoroid,moon,nasa,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/304e-323-big-splash--61071943https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61071943Tue, 01 Oct 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerTo discover what would happen if an asteroid were to strike a large body of water, Dr. Galen Gisler led a team of scientists who used high performance computing facilities at Los Alamos National Laboratory to calculate and visualize a 3-D model of an...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor meteorite,meteroid,moon,nasa,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/816-david-s-close-approaching-comet--61071925https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61071925Fri, 27 Sep 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey Teammate David Rankin was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Pegasus with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, AZ when he spotted a faint fuzzy object moving through a set of his images.David’s discovery is classified to...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor meteorite,meteroid,moon,nasa,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/303e-322-dust-stories--61071909It is estimated that several hundred thousand pounds of left over particles from the formation of our solar system enters the Earth's atmosphere every day with perhaps 10% of the of the total reaching the surface of our home planet. The individual grains of cosmic dust or micro-meteorites as they are also called range in size from the diameter of a human hair to twice the thickness of a dime.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61071909Tue, 24 Sep 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerCollect your own beautiful micro-meteorite sample. It is estimated that several hundred thousand pounds of left over particles from the formation of our solar system enters the Earth's atmosphere every day with perhaps 10% of the of the total...It is estimated that several hundred thousand pounds of left over particles from the formation of our solar system enters the Earth's atmosphere every day with perhaps 10% of the of the total reaching the surface of our home planet. The individual grains of cosmic dust or micro-meteorites as they are also called range in size from the diameter of a human hair to twice the thickness of a dime.]]>121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,meteor meteorite,meteroid,moon,nasa,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/815-radar-observes-binary-pha--61071874https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61071874Fri, 20 Sep 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. Grauer RADAR is very powerful tool since it can precisely measure an asteroid’s position and velocity as well as in some cases yield information about its size, shape, and other characteristics. 121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,moon,nasa,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/302e-321-dangereous-comet--61071854https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61071854Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerProtection against a comet strike is worth considering. Every year, if we are lucky, several comets can come close enough for the Sun to warm and us to see the beautiful changing dust and gas clouds around them with binoculars or our unaided eyes. So...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,moon,nasa,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/814-threat-of-solar-storms--61071809https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61071809Fri, 13 Sep 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerSolar storms on our home planet occur when bursts of visible, ultraviolet and other photons hit our atmosphere and/or streams of energetic particles in the solar wind interact with Earth’s magnetic field.  Mild solar storms produce beautiful aurora...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,moon,nasa,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/301e-320-wow-what-a-ride--61071789Riding the surface of the asteroid that my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski recently discovered would be an incredible experience.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61071789Tue, 10 Sep 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt's a good thing this one will miss Earth. Riding the surface of the asteroid that my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski recently discovered would be an incredible experience.Riding the surface of the asteroid that my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski recently discovered would be an incredible experience.]]>121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,moon,nasa,space,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/813-radar-observations-of-close-approacher--61071760https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61071760Fri, 06 Sep 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAstronomers measure an asteroid’s position  on the sky using a two dimensional system similar to the latitude and longitude coordinates we obtain with our GPS.  For the vast majority of asteroids, we cannot measure the third dimension, the distance to...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,moon,nasa,space,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/300e-319-lost-and-found--60758490https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60758490Tue, 03 Sep 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen asteroid hunters follow an object in the night sky for a few hours or a couple of days they are only able to observe a snippet or tracklet of the object's hundreds to thousands of days long path around the Sun. If we only have a short sample of...121asteroid,astronomy,nasa,space,telescope,track,trackletfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/812-the-benu-files-i--60758465https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60758465Fri, 30 Aug 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerA recent scientific paper characterizes the 123 grams of the regolith or surface material from the asteroid Bennu which NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft brought back to Earth after a successful 7 year sample and return mission.Determining the chemical...121asteroid,astronomy,bennu,mining,nasa,osiris-rex,osirusrex,regolith,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/299e-318-caves-of-mars--60758455https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60758455Tue, 27 Aug 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerPresently the surface of Mars is very dry and any liquid water that reaches it quickly boils away since the martian atmospheric pressure is what you could experience in your space suit 30 to 50 miles above the Earth's surface. However, since the...121astronomy,caves,earth,life,mars,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/811-martian-meteroite-hunters--60758437https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60758437Fri, 23 Aug 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerPerhaps someday humans will travel to Mars, walk the surface of the red planet, and collect meteorites. Recent studies suggest Mars to be an exciting place to find ancient relics of our solar system121cacao,earth,mars,meteorite,treasurefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/298e-317-psyche-water--60758421https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60758421Tue, 20 Aug 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe asteroid Psyche may be one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in the solar system. It is a small world about 116 miles in diameter and is composed of almost pure nickel-iron metal. It is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,psyche,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/810-humans-can--60758411https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60758411Fri, 16 Aug 2024 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe James Webb Space Telescope or JWST for short is a superb scientific instrument which is revolutionizing our understanding of the structure of the universe and is providing a tool to help us to explore the possibility of life outside of Earth. It...121astronomy,infrared,jameswebb,jwst,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/297e-316-weird-centaur--60758394https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60758394Tue, 13 Aug 2024 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski was surprised to find a moving point of light on some his images which was more than 50 times brighter than a typical Earth approaching object he observes . He was even more amazed when it was not...121asteroid,astronomy,centaur,earth,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/809-how-close-can-an-asteroid-approach--60758378https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60758378Fri, 09 Aug 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Earth Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance or Earth MOID for short is the closest an asteroid can come to our home planet on it's current orbit.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,texasa&mfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/296e-314-our-number--60758365https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60758365Tue, 06 Aug 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard discovered, 2016 WJ1, a relatively large asteroid which can come close but will not hit the Earth. The extremely unlikely scenario of an impactor with our number on it would start the with the...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/808-global-auroras-on-mars--60758352https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60758352Fri, 02 Aug 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen the Earth enters a stream of high speed protons and other charged particles in the solar wind or our home planet is impacted by a solar coronal mass ejection the Earth’s strong magnetic field acts a a shield. Mars on the other hand lacks an...121astronomy,aurora,earth,mars,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/295e-313-martian-motherlode--60190571Martian colonists will need to create mini environments with air to breathe and water to drink. Energy will be required to keep warm, power the settlement, and enable vehicles to move around the planet.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60190571Tue, 30 Jul 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerWater for Martian Colonists Martian colonists will need to create mini environments with air to breathe and water to drink. Energy will be required to keep warm, power the settlement, and enable vehicles to move around the planet.Martian colonists will need to create mini environments with air to breathe and water to drink. Energy will be required to keep warm, power the settlement, and enable vehicles to move around the planet.]]>121astronomy,colonists,earth,mars,nasa,space,spacecraft,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/807-moon-orbit-crossers--60190544https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60190544Fri, 26 Jul 2024 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring a recent 60 day period of time 23 space rocks came closer to Earth than our Moon121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,jupiter,mars,moon,nasa,space,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/294e-312-200-yards-of-trouble--60190517https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60190517Tue, 23 Jul 2024 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerDangerous Asteroids Are Still Out There Recently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard discovered a rapidly moving point of light in the night sky. Subsequent observations made by telescopes in Arizona, Romania, Illinois, the Czech Republic,...121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,dangerous,earth,impactor,jpl,jupiter,mars,nasa,pha,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/806-distant-pha--60190467https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60190467Fri, 19 Jul 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt is hard to obtain time on the 8m Gemini South Observatory telescope on Cerro Pachon in Chile and the Large Binocular Telescope with its twin 8m mirrors on Mt. Graham, Arizona since they are among the largest telescopes in the world. My Catalina Sky...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,jupiter,mars,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/293e-311-bright-and-bald--60190429https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60190429Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls discovered 2015 TC25 as a rapidly moving point of light in the night sky. Followup observations using data from four different telescopes has enabled a team of astronomers led by Dr. Vishnu Reddy of the...121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,jupiter,mars,nasa,space,vestafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/805-very-close-miss--60190390https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60190390Fri, 12 Jul 2024 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring a recent 60 day period asteroid hunters observed 23 asteroids which came closer to us than our Moon. Six of them passed closer to the Earth’s surface than 22,236 miles which is the distance to our communication satellites.121asteroid,astronomy,communication,earth,impactor,mars,moon,nasa,satellites,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/292e-310-ethics-and-mars--60190346It is unlikely that any living organism could survive being blasted from the surface of a planet, travel through interstellar space on a meteoroid, survive a fiery entry through another planet's atmosphere, and be viable when it reaches the surface. However, humans are breaching this interplanetary barrier. We have robots operating and are planning to land colonists on the red planet. This situation has prompted doctoral student Daniel Helman of Prescott College to ask the question "If Martian microbial life is discovered, is it ethical for humans to colonize Mars even if that means spoiling the environment of the microbes?" .]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60190346Tue, 09 Jul 2024 16:01:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerShould martian microbes be sacrificed to human space exploration? It is unlikely that any living organism could survive being blasted from the surface of a planet, travel through interstellar space on a meteoroid, survive a fiery entry through another...It is unlikely that any living organism could survive being blasted from the surface of a planet, travel through interstellar space on a meteoroid, survive a fiery entry through another planet's atmosphere, and be viable when it reaches the surface. However, humans are breaching this interplanetary barrier. We have robots operating and are planning to land colonists on the red planet. This situation has prompted doctoral student Daniel Helman of Prescott College to ask the question "If Martian microbial life is discovered, is it ethical for humans to colonize Mars even if that means spoiling the environment of the microbes?" .]]>121alienlife,astronomy,earth,mars,microbes,nasa,space,spacecraft,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/804-tracie-s-solo--60190324https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60190324Fri, 05 Jul 2024 16:01:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerAfter months of training Tracie came full circle during her first solo 3 night observing run on the 60 inch telescope as she hosted groups of visitors as the observer instead of the tour guide.121asteroid,'astronomy,earth,jupiter,mars,nasa,space,telescope,texasa&m,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/291e-309-tiny-atira--60190289https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60190289Tue, 02 Jul 2024 16:01:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerAtira, named for the Pawnee goddess of Earth and the Morning and Evening Star orbits the Sun inside of our path.  Atira, the first of this type of asteroid, was discovered by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research Program using telescopes in New...121asteroid,astronomy,atira,earth,jupiter,mars,nasa,space,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/803-monster-neo--60190271https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60190271Fri, 28 Jun 2024 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerSince larger space rocks are rare, it was surprising when my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Hannes Groller found a half mile diameter asteroid traveling through the constellation of Auriga.Fortunately on it’s current path 2024 JW1 can’t come closer than...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,jupiter,mars,nasa,pha,space,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/290e-306-egg-rock--60190219https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60190219Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:01:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerEgg rock's chemical composition and visual appearance is so different from other native Mars rocks that scientists have concluded that it is a meteorite which came from the molten core of an ancient asteroid. 121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,curosity,earth,jpl,mars,nasa,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/802-bok-comet--60190180https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60190180Fri, 21 Jun 2024 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Kacper Wierzchos was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Draco with the Steward Observatory Bok 90 inch telescope on Kitt Peak, Arizona when he discovered a faint fuzzy object moving through the night sky.Given the...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/289e-305-murky--59686506https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59686506Tue, 18 Jun 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt was murky cloudy night on Mt. Lemmon where I was trying to find Earth approaching objects with the Catalina Sky Survey 60 inch telescope. At about 1AM another hole in the clouds opened and I could see stars on the all sky video camera. On this...121asteroid,astronomy,catalinaskysurvey,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/801-jacqui-s-pha--59686472https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59686472Fri, 14 Jun 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Jacqueline Fazekas was asteroid hunting with our small but mighty Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona when she spotted and then reported a bright moving point of light in the night sky to the Minor Planet...121asteroid,astronomy,minorplanetcenter,mtbigelow,nasa,schmidt,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/288e-304-close-one--59686456https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59686456Tue, 11 Jun 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Rose Matheny had no way of knowing that the fast moving point of light that she had just discovered would create such a stir. Rose sent in her discovery and followup observations to the Minor Planet Center where...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/800-telescope-reborn--59686441https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59686441Fri, 07 Jun 2024 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn an astonishing rebirth, the Mayall 4-m telescope has jumped to the forefront of astronomy once again because it is sturdy and precise enough to carry the massive Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument which routinely obtains the spectra of 5,000...1214m,astronomy,darkenergy,energy,kittpeak,myall,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/287e-302-sensing-a-comet--59686419https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59686419Tue, 04 Jun 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerMore than 400 years ago Galileo Galilei expanded human vision using a telescope to view the cosmos. Since then humans have extended their senses to view the Universe in x-rays, ultraviolet, infrared, radio, and other portions of the electromagnetic...121art,astronomy,comet,earth,esa,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/799-nature-s-gateways--59686390https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59686390Fri, 31 May 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary and the Aldo Leopold Gila Wilderness in New Mexico are gateways to nature where man is only a visitor.These New Mexico neighbors give us a sense of wonder, glimpses of history, new knowledge to...121aldoleopold,astronomy,earth,environment,gila,lightpollution,nasa,nature,space,wildernessfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/286e-301-visitors-from-afar--59686309One of the perks of being an asteroid hunter is having a comet named for you. To do this you must be the first to discover it as a moving point of light in the night sky and at the same time recognize that it is a comet by observing the coma and tail which are names for the clouds of gas and dust that surrounds it. After being on the lookout for a comet for sometime, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Rose Matheny discovered two of them within a 4 day period of time. Both of them C/2016 T1 (Matheny) and C/2016 T2 (Matheny) are likely to be first time visitors to the inner solar system. These two comets have quite different paths which are both inclined at large angles to the paths of the planets about the Sun. In addition, both of them are traveling at very close to the escape velocity from our solar system and have uncertain orbital periods around the Sun which are likely to be thousands of times the age of the Universe.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59686309Tue, 28 May 2024 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerA pair of comets visiting our neighborhood are discovered in a matter of 4 days. One of the perks of being an asteroid hunter is having a comet named for you. To do this you must be the first to discover it as a moving point of light in the night sky...One of the perks of being an asteroid hunter is having a comet named for you. To do this you must be the first to discover it as a moving point of light in the night sky and at the same time recognize that it is a comet by observing the coma and tail which are names for the clouds of gas and dust that surrounds it. After being on the lookout for a comet for sometime, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Rose Matheny discovered two of them within a 4 day period of time. Both of them C/2016 T1 (Matheny) and C/2016 T2 (Matheny) are likely to be first time visitors to the inner solar system. These two comets have quite different paths which are both inclined at large angles to the paths of the planets about the Sun. In addition, both of them are traveling at very close to the escape velocity from our solar system and have uncertain orbital periods around the Sun which are likely to be thousands of times the age of the Universe.]]>121astronomy,comet,discover,earth,jupiter,mars,milkyway,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/798-destination-enceladus--59686279https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59686279Fri, 24 May 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerLife on Earth appears to have formed in our oceans. Scientists are thus on the hunt for other worlds which have oceans of liquid water and thus potentially could be the home of fellow living creatures.121alien,astronomy,earth,enceladus,jupiter,life,moon,nasa,saturn,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/285e-299-sporadic-geysers--59686261https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59686261Tue, 21 May 2024 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerUsing a small telescope or a set of binoculars you can see Europa for yourself as a small moving point of light circling the giant planet Jupiter. More than 400 years after Galileo Galilei discovered this seemingly small dead world the Hubble Space...121alien,astronomy,earth,europa,geysers,jupiter,life,nasa,oceans,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/797-recoveries--59686141https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59686141Fri, 17 May 2024 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt is essential that asteroid hunters keep track of potentially dangerous asteroids to make sure that their orbits haven’t changed as they encounter other objects in space to make them a threat to our home planet.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,esa,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/284e-298-rosetta--59686124https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59686124Tue, 14 May 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Rosetta Spacecraft left planet Earth in 2004. During its twelve year lifetime this robotic emissary traveled 5 billion miles on 6 trips around the Sun, flew by Earth three times, visited Mars, and cruised by two asteroids. Rosetta needed to take...121astronomy,comet,comet67p,earth,esa,nasa,nucleus,rosetta,space,spacecraftfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/796-comet-c-2024-e1-wierzchos-preview--59686102https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59686102Fri, 10 May 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn the 3rd of March 2024 while asteroid hunting with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon , Arizona my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Kacper Wierzchos discovered a comet moving through the constellation of Draco.Since we don’t know Kacper’s comet’s...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,milkyway,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/283e-297-white-sky--59090141https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59090141Tue, 07 May 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerInappropriate night time outside lighting causes accidents and does not deter crime. However, it blinds you from the beauty of the Universe which surrounds you.121astronomy,light,lightpollution,nasa,pollution,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/795-spiral-comet--59090107https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59090107Fri, 03 May 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerComet 12P/Pons-Brooks comes near the Sun once every 71 years.  It was discovered in 1812 by Jean Louis Pons at Marseilles, France and then rediscovered by American Astronomer William Robert Brooks in 1883. Electronic cameras reveal this comet's...12112p,12p/pons-brooks,astronomy,comet,imageprocessing,nasa,pons-brooks,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/282e-296-tilted-history--59090070https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59090070Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerSeasons are created by the fact that the Earth's axis of rotation is currently tilted 23 1/2 degrees relative to our path around the Sun. The slight out of roundness of the Earth's orbit combined with a 41,000 year cycle in its 3 degree axis of...121astronomy,earth,human,humanmigration,migration,nasa,space,telescope,tiltfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/794-an-apollo-space-rock-to-follow--59089961https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59089961Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Vivian Carjaval was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Ursa Minor with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow when she discovered, 2024 BR4, a two football field diameter Earth approaching asteroid.Vivian’s...121apollo,asteroid,astronomy,dangerous,earth,jupiter,mars,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/281e-295-close-passes--59089897https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59089897Tue, 23 Apr 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring a recent 3 night observing run my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Rose Matheny discovered 4 asteroids which can come to less than one half the Moon's distance from us. Interestingly one of them passed about 25,000 miles over the South Pole 2 days...121asteroid,astronomy,dangerous,earth,meteor,meteorite,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/793-close-space-rock--59089841https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59089841Fri, 19 Apr 2024 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerPerhaps the most dangerous Amor asteroid is 2006 HZ51 .It was discovered by my team the Catalina Sky Survey.  Fortunately the closest 2006 HZ51 will come to our home planet is  June 11 of 2116 when it will pass us harmlessly 26 times the distance to...121amor,asteroid,earth,meteor,meteorite,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/280e-294-dangerous-duo--59089779https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59089779Tue, 16 Apr 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently in the space of 28 hours my Catalina Sky Survey teammates Rose Matheny and Carson Fuls discovered two Potentially Hazardous Asteroids to add to the list of the more than 1700 which asteroid hunters have discovered. Fortunately, none of the...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,dangerous,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/792-closest-approaching-comet--59089702https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59089702Fri, 12 Apr 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerP/1999 J6 (SOHO) was discovered 10 May 1995 by Mike Oates as part of the Citizen Science Sun Grazer Project in which volunteers from all over the world have the chance to discover a comet in images taken by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory or...121astronomy,comet,meteor,meteorite,nasa,soh,soho,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/279e-293-from-luna--59089658https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59089658Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerMore than 240 Lunar meteorites have been found in the Dhofar region of Oman, on the LaPaz Icefield of Antartica, and other locations on the Earth's surface. These space traveling rocks were blasted from the Moon's surface by the impact of asteroids...121astronomy,meteor,meteorite,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/791-a-fireball-and-it-s-gifts--59089595https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59089595Fri, 05 Apr 2024 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt all started when Krisztián Sárneczky at the Konkoly Observatory near Budapest, Hungary reported the position and brightness of an unknown asteroid rapidly moving through the constellation of Lynx. Three hours later , the object, now called 2024 BX1...121astronomy,fireball,meteor,meteorite,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/278e-292-disintegrating-comet--59089535https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59089535Tue, 02 Apr 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerComets are made up of organic materials and ices of various substance which are left over from the formation of our solar system 4.6 billion years ago. When the gravity of a nearby star or other object changes one of these dirty snowball's orbit, its...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,hst,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/790-vivian-s-debut--58816889https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58816889Fri, 29 Mar 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy new Catalina Sky Survey Teammate Vivian Carjaval was scheduled for three 13h long winter nights for her first solo observing run on our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona. As luck would have it she couldn’t observe the first night because of...121asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/277e-291-rose-rules--58816880https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58816880Tue, 26 Mar 2024 16:01:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerAnyone who thinks women can't do computers and science needs to meet my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Rose Matheny. On a recent 3 night observing run at the 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Rose took over the world of asteroid hunting when she posted...121asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,discover,earth,nasa,space,telescope,tlescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/789-asteroid-with-a-tail--58816840https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58816840Fri, 22 Mar 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Josh Hogan was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Taurus with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when he came across a very curious object. It has an orbit like an ordinary main belt asteroid. However,...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,nasa,space,tail,taurusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/276e-290-screaming-aten--58816724https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58816724Tue, 19 Mar 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerI knew from the short regularly space streaks on the four images I had just obtained with the Catalina Sky Survey's 60 inch on Mount Lemmon, Arizona, I was looking at the path of an Earth approaching object. Turns out, this previously unknown object,...121asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,aten,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/788-00-years-of-wilderness--58816630https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58816630Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 1924 the Aldo Leopold Wilderness in southwestern New Mexico became the first designated wilderness and is an island from which to view the natural night sky. Today, because of inappropriate night lighting, the vast majority of children will never...121alan,astronomy,cosmiccampground,lightpollution,nasa,space,telescope,wildernessfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/275e-289-strange-comet--58435375https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58435375Tue, 12 Mar 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerC/2016 Q4 (Kowalski) is my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski's 14th comet discovery. It orbits the Sun once every 68 years on a cold path between Saturn and Neptune.121astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/787-far-out--58435130https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58435130Fri, 08 Mar 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2024, Voyager I is 163 times further from the Sun than we are and is the most distant, human made, traveler in the night.121astronomy,cosmiccampground,distant,earth,human,nasa,night,traveler,voyagerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/274e-288-coming-out-of-monsoon--58434972https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58434972Tue, 05 Mar 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the southwest, the life giving monsoon rains occur in July and August, divide the observing year into two halves, and give asteroid hunters a chance to do major equipment maintenance and upgrades. My Catalina Sky Survey teammates Richard Kowalski...121arizona,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,monsoon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/786-comet-31--58434590https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58434590Fri, 01 Mar 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Alex Gibbs discovered his 31st comet while asteroid hunting in Leo with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona. It orbits the Sun once every 6 years on a path between Mars and Jupiter. Comet P/2023/Y1 (Gibbs) is...121astronomy,comet,earth,enke,jupiter,nasa,space,tunguskafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/273e-286-neighboring-world--58434555https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58434555Tue, 27 Feb 2024 07:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerAstronomers at the European Southern Observatory in Chile have discovered a rocky Earth like planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the star nearest to our Sun. The planet named Proxima b is about 1.3 times more massive than Earth, orbits it's dim red star...121alien,alienworld,astronomy,earth,nasa,proxima,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/785-secret-asteroid-mission--58434525https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58434525Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerUnlike other space missions which are conducted out in the open the asteroid mining company AstroForge’s first mission to a potentially valuable nearby rocky M type asteroid is being planned in secret so that some other company doesn’t have the chance...121asteroid,asteroidmining,astroforge,astronomy,earth,mining,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/272e-285-mars-impactors--58434485https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58434485Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2015 the Earth was struck by at least 43 meteoroids which created bright fireballs. Their arrival does not seem to be correlated with the position of the Earth in it's orbit about the Sun.Overall a given piece of ground on Mars is several times...121astronomy,earth,mars,meteor,meteroite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/784-josh-s-two-phas--58434433https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58434433Fri, 16 Feb 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerSo far asteroid hunters have discovered approximately half of the 5,000 PHAs which are likely to exist. Asteroid hunters will continue to search the sky to discover dangerous asteroids 50 years before impact so that humans can either deflect or...121asteroid,astronomy,danger,hazardous,impactor,nasa,potentially,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/271e-284-dark-trails--58434330https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58434330Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA faint shooting star or meteor streaking across the sky is produced when a tiny bit of rock or dust enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up some 60 miles above us. NASA scientist Dr. Marc Fries and his collaborators have used Doppler Weather...121astreroid,astronomy,meteor,meteroite,nasa,radar,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/783-kacper-s-centaur--58098940https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58098940Fri, 09 Feb 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerCentaurs have long puzzled astronomers since they have traits in common with both asteroids and comets.121asteroid,astronomy,centaur,comet,earth,jupiter,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/270e-283-micro-astronomy--58098871https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58098871Tue, 06 Feb 2024 19:10:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe history of our spot in the Universe is written in the composition of meteorites and other samples of materials we have obtained from space. Even the smallest speck has a story to tell.121antarctica,asteroid,astronomy,comet,meteor,meteorite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/782-probing-the-cosmic-web--58098842https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58098842Fri, 02 Feb 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the past two decades astronomers have discovered that galaxies are not randomly distributed in space but rather occur along filaments of mass with huge empty voids between them. How objects and structures in the early Universe became nearby...121astronomy,bang,big,expansionofthe,galaxies,jamesweb,jwst,nasa,space,universefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/269e-281-starlight-walking--58098796https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58098796Tue, 30 Jan 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerWe don't know much about our Ethiopian ancestor Lucy who walked the Earth some 3 million years ago, however, it is likely that she made her way around at night but the light of the stars, air glow, and the Moon. In modern humans, the Rod receptors in...121astronomy,cosmiccampground,darksky,nasa,new mexico,night,space,telescope,visionfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/781-comet-c-2023-v5-leonard--58098770https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58098770Fri, 26 Jan 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Aquarius with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona when he discovered his 19th comet. Turns out Greg's new comet is a member of a family of comets...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,nasa,space,sun,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/268e-280-ice-volcanos--58098581https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58098581Tue, 23 Jan 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerScientists have spotted icy plumes coming from below the surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus but have yet to witness such events on Ceres. Even so there is significant evidence which points to the possibility of a liquid water ocean layer below Ceres...121asteroid,astronomy,ceres,comet,dawn,earth,enceladus,mars,nasa,space,vestafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/780-scary-space-rock--58098511https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58098511Fri, 19 Jan 2024 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate David Rankin was being filmed and interviewed by the NASA 360 crew at our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when he discovered a scary space rock moving through the constellation of Aquarius at 13 mi/s.Rest...121asteroid,astertoidhunter,astronomy,earth,jupiter,mars,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/267e-279-hottest--57953540https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57953540Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe warming that is happening is having a variety of consequences. In the American midwest and northeast extreme heat, heavy rain storms, and flooding will impact agriculture, forestry, infrastructure, and air as well as water quality. In the...121danger,global,globalwarming,nasa,sea level,warmingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/779-what-if-an-asteroid-is-about-to-impact-earth--57953475https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57953475Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA research project whoes goal is to explore if it would be possible, on short notice, to pulverize a small asteroid so that it would not enter the Earth’s atmosphere as a single object perhaps saving humanity from an very expensive sonic boom.121asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,nasa,pulverize,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/266e-278-nope--57953403]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57953403Tue, 09 Jan 2024 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThis is the story of the big one that got away. It illustrates the problem that there are a number of possible orbits which may fit a short arc of an object in the night sky. There may be scores of kilometer sized objects out there but 2016 NA39 is...]]>121asteroid,astronomy,dangerous,nasa,orbits,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/778-two-comets--57953306https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57953306Fri, 05 Jan 2024 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerMatching his wife’s discovery of two comets on the same observing run seven years previously my Catalina Sky Survey team caption Carson Fuls discovered two comets on consecutive nights. They have very different origins and ultimater fates.121astronomy,comet,css,discovery,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/265e-277-old-girl--57953276https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57953276Tue, 02 Jan 2024 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerImagine a telescope old enough for Senior Citizen discounts, which has traveled between mountains, and started life with a metal mirror measuring one thing at time being equipped with a camera with 100 million pixels. This is the story of the "old...121asteroid,astronomy,mtlemmon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/777-psyche-bound--57953242https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57953242Fri, 29 Dec 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe NASA Psyche Spacecraft will use a multispectral imager, gamma and neutron spectrometers, and other instruments to map, measure, and characterize an unknown weird world.121asteroid,astronomy,nasa,psyche,space,spacecraftfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/264e-276-big-3--57424321https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57424321Tue, 26 Dec 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring a 6 night observing run with the 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls discovered three new Potentially Hazardous Asteroids. They range in size from 600 to 1500 feet in diameter. Fortunately, none...121asteroid,astronomy,discover,hazardous,nasa,pha,potentially,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/776-naming-asteroids-and-comets--57424315https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57424315Fri, 22 Dec 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerHistorically explorers in many fields of human endeavor have been granted the privilege to name their discovery. If you find a new comet and it receives enough followup observations it will carry your last name. Every year a significant number of...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,discover,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/263e-275-no-place-like-home--57424312https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57424312Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerRobotic spacecraft from Earth have been traveling around the solar system for decades. What they have found is that there may be a few places on which the toughest terrestrial life forms could exist but nowhere that you could survive without a space...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,earth,life,nasa,planets,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/775-3-close-approaches--57424297https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57424297Fri, 15 Dec 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring a six hour period three small space rocks passed through the Earth-Moon system. At discovery 2023 TO4 was in Pegasus, 2023 TD7 was in Aries , and 2023 TQ3 was in Eradanus.If 2023 TD7 had been an impactor David’s early discovery would have given...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impactor,jupiter,mars,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/262e-274-new-horizons-continues--57424288https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57424288Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe NASA New Horizons spacecraft obtained intriguing images and data during it's trip through the Pluto system which will keep planetary scientists busy for years to come. Now the New Horizons has it's sights set on an object, a billion miles past...121astronomy,hst,hubble,nasa,newhorizons,pluto,solarsystem,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/774-loss-and-gain--57424281https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57424281Fri, 08 Dec 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Catalina Sky Survey searchs the sky as rapidly as possible in search of Earth approaching objects that could pose a threat to our home planet. The Vera Rubin Observatory will obtain 200,000 images per year to discover things that move or change...121asteroids,astronomy,css,darkmatter,nasa,space,verarubinfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/261e-273-hunt-for-planet9--57375415https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57375415Tue, 05 Dec 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerEvidence continues to mount that there is an unseen body, Planet 9, orbiting far from our Sun. Ideas of where to look for it are being guided by it's gravitational influence on objects in the distant region of our solar system called the Kuiper Belt.121astronomy,kuiper,kuiperbelt,planet9,pluto,space,sunfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/773-discovery-and-recovery--57375375https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57375375Fri, 01 Dec 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerNew observations linked with discovery observations 10 years earlier provide a significant improvement in the precision of our knowledge of 2013 TG6’s orbital elements and thus its position on the sky well into the future.It is important for asteroid...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,esa,jupiter,mars,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/260e-272-big-eye--57375328https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57375328Tue, 28 Nov 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn a mountain top in the foothills of the Andes in northern Chile a new kind telescope, the LSST, is under construction. It's unique design allows it to image an area of the sky 40 times the size of the full moon and thus record the entire sky twice a...121asteroids,blackholes,chile,darkmatter,lsst,nasa,telescope,verarubinfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/772-m31-our-neighbor-s-surprise--57375287https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57375287Tue, 28 Nov 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerMarcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner, and Yann Sainty’s image of our neighboring galaxy, M31, in Andromeda won the 10,000 British pound Astronomer Photographer of the year award for 2023. Amazingly their image revealed a huge, previously unknown arc of...121andromeda,astronomy,award,earth,gascloud,m31,nebulae,oxygen,photograph,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/259e-271-race-to-mars--57375240https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57375240Sat, 25 Nov 2023 04:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe red planet may soon need air traffic control. In the next few years China, Europe, India, Japan, United Arab Emirates, United States, and SpaceX are all operating Martian spacecraft or planning to send robotic explorers to Mars.121astronomy,earth,india,jupiter,mars,nasa,perservance,space,spacex,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/771-nice-pha--57375139https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57375139Fri, 17 Nov 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerNASA classifies 2023 SZ1 as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid since it is larger than 140m in diameter and on its current path can come to about 6 times the Moon’s distance from us.Fortunately on its current path 2023 SZ1 will not come any closer than...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,jupiter,mars,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/258e-258e-270-space-opals--57375066Professor Hilary Downes of Birkbeck College London headed up a team which discovered Opal in a meteorite which was found in Antartica. Previous to their work the only known extra-terrestrial Opal consisted of a few crystals which were found in a meteorite from Mars.
The Antarctic meteorite that Professor Downes and her team studied, EET 83309, is made up of thousands of small pieces of rocks and minerals. This space rock was created by collisions between objects from various parts of our solar system. Some of them are likely to have been carrying large amounts of water ice. The Downes team found solid evidence that the opal was formed before their sample left the surface of the parent asteroid, traveled through space, and was recovered by humans on the Antarctic ice sheet.
Professor Downes concludes "This is more evidence that meteorites and asteroids can carry large amounts of water ice. Although we rightly worry about the consequences of the impact of large asteroids, billions of years ago they may have brought the water to the Earth and helped it become the world teeming with life that we live in today."

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57375066Tue, 14 Nov 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerOpal, the national gemstone of Australia, is silica, the most common ingredient of sand, with a number of water molecules attached to it. On Earth Opal forms when water evaporates from a slurry of sand and water which is deposited repeatedly in a...Professor Hilary Downes of Birkbeck College London headed up a team which discovered Opal in a meteorite which was found in Antartica. Previous to their work the only known extra-terrestrial Opal consisted of a few crystals which were found in a meteorite from Mars.
The Antarctic meteorite that Professor Downes and her team studied, EET 83309, is made up of thousands of small pieces of rocks and minerals. This space rock was created by collisions between objects from various parts of our solar system. Some of them are likely to have been carrying large amounts of water ice. The Downes team found solid evidence that the opal was formed before their sample left the surface of the parent asteroid, traveled through space, and was recovered by humans on the Antarctic ice sheet.
Professor Downes concludes "This is more evidence that meteorites and asteroids can carry large amounts of water ice. Although we rightly worry about the consequences of the impact of large asteroids, billions of years ago they may have brought the water to the Earth and helped it become the world teeming with life that we live in today."

]]>121asteroids,astronomy,australia,comets,nasa,opal,space,waterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/770-hycean-worlds--57375008https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57375008Fri, 10 Nov 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerHycean Worlds, with masses between Earth and Neptune which have thin hydrogen rich atmospheres above a liquid water ocean may be very common in our neighborhood of the Milky Way. They could be an abode of life.121astronomy,earth,mars,nasa,space,water,waterworlds,worldsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/257e-269-gamma-ray-eyes--57374925https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57374925Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerIf you woke up tomorrow with gamma ray eyes things would look very different. Geology would come to life as you peered into the Earth and became aware of the various minerals it contains. Gamma rays coming from stars, supernovae, pulsars, and black...121astronomy,blackhole,earth,fermi,gamma,gammarays,nasa,rays,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/769-green-comet--57374881https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57374881Fri, 03 Nov 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerGiven the effects of climate change today who can predict what planet Earth will be like when C/2023 P1(Nishimura) comes back near our home planet in approximately 2455 AD.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,japan,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/256e-268-mars-weather-report--57374827https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57374827Tue, 31 Oct 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerBefore you pack your bags for a trip to Mars you will want to check out the weather data that NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover has recorded over the past two Martian years.There is no getting around the fact that you will need a space suit and long woolies...121astronauts,astronomy,colonists,earth,mars,nasa,space,spacexfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/768-capricornus-observatory-csokako--57374771https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57374771Fri, 27 Oct 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2023 T. Maroti of the Capricornus Observatory, Csokako, Hungary discovered two Earth approaching asteroids which were passing through the night sky unnoticed by other observers. His equipment is an 11 inch telescope, electronic camera, and computer.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,jupiter,mars,moon,nasa,space,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/767-a-really-tough-customer--57367798https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57367798Tue, 24 Oct 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe more we learn about 322P/SOHO the stranger it becomes.121astronomy,comet,earth,nasa,soho,space,sunfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/766-korean-asteroid-hunters--56835274https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56835274Fri, 13 Oct 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Catalina Sky Survey and the Korean teams of asteroid hunters will discover and track Earth approaching objects making the residents of our home planet safer121arizona,asteroid,asteroidhunters,astronomy,css,korea,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/255e-267-hiding-from-et--56835253https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56835253Tue, 10 Oct 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerShould humans hide from ET or should ET hide from us?121alien,astronomy,et,extraterrestrial,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/765-bright-fireball--56835233https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56835233Fri, 06 Oct 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerBright fireball meteors sometimes rain pieces of themselves onto the ground for meteorite hunters to discover.121astronomy,fireball,meteor,meteroite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/254e-266-colliding-planets--56835216https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56835216Tue, 03 Oct 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerCollisions between planets, planetesimals, asteroids, and comets have produced the place where we live and breathe.Today scientists are replacing myths with solid evidence that violent impacts between planets, planetesimals, asteroids, and comets are...121astronomy,collisions,earth,jupiter,moon,nasa,planets,saturn,space,velikovskyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/764-green-airglow--56765554https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56765554Fri, 29 Sep 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe natural night sky is alive with its own lights. In addition to celestial sources often there is natural night sky airglow powered by space weather from above and/or tropospheric activity from below. It is not the Aurora Borealis. Amazing images...121airglow,astronomy,earth,lightning,nasa,space,spaceweatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/253e-265-dancing-with-earth--56374718]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56374718Tue, 26 Sep 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Moon is the Earth's long time dancing partner. This unequal pair revolve about a teeter totter type balance point which in turn orbits the Sun every 365 and a quarter days. A small asteroid has become a third partner in the Earth-Moon dance.]]>121asteroid,astronomy,minimoon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/763-hogan-s-big-rock--56374705https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56374705Fri, 22 Sep 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Josh Hogan was asteroid hunting in the constellation Sextans with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when he discovered the largest asteroid in nearly a decade121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/252e-264-tough-guy--56374683https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56374683Tue, 19 Sep 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerA tough rocky asteroid makes close approaches to the Sun.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/762-kacper-s-pha--56374673https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56374673Fri, 15 Sep 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn object like 2023 MN5 impacts Earth once every 90,000 years or so creating a crater 5 miles in diameter an 1800 feet deep in sedimentary rock. 50 miles from the impact of such an object observers would feel the effects of a 7.1 Richter scale Earth....121asteroid,astronomy,dangerous,nasa,pha,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/251e-263-catching-shadows--56374665For years humans knew Pluto, the first Trans-Neptunian object to be discovered, only as a moving point of light in the night sky. It wasn't until 58 years after it's discovery that astronomers were able to observe a star as Pluto passed in front of it. These data gave an accurate diameter and also proved that Pluto has an atmosphere. There are estimated to be 100,000 Trans-Neptunian bodies larger than 60 miles or so in diameter. They have stories to tell about the beginning of the solar system. Additionally, sometimes, a passing star changes one of their orbits sending it into the inner solar system and perhaps near to us.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56374665Tue, 12 Sep 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerStudents and teachers are doing real science by measuring the shadows cast by distant objects in our solar system. For years humans knew Pluto, the first Trans-Neptunian object to be discovered, only as a moving point of light in the night sky. It...For years humans knew Pluto, the first Trans-Neptunian object to be discovered, only as a moving point of light in the night sky. It wasn't until 58 years after it's discovery that astronomers were able to observe a star as Pluto passed in front of it. These data gave an accurate diameter and also proved that Pluto has an atmosphere. There are estimated to be 100,000 Trans-Neptunian bodies larger than 60 miles or so in diameter. They have stories to tell about the beginning of the solar system. Additionally, sometimes, a passing star changes one of their orbits sending it into the inner solar system and perhaps near to us.
]]>121astronomy,nasa,occultation,pluto,shadow,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/761-allesandra-s-duo--56374653https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56374653Fri, 08 Sep 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn less than two hours my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Allesandra Serrano discovered two small fast moving space rocks. Both of them passed through the Earth-Moon system unimpeded. Other space rocks are not so lucky.121astronomy,earth,impact,lunar,meteorite,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/250e-262-shooting-star-s-daddy--56374644https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56374644Tue, 05 Sep 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe source of the Geminid Meteor shower each December is a strange little asteroid.121astronomy,gemini,meteor,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/760-discover-an-asteroid--56374630https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56374630Fri, 01 Sep 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerCarson Fuls, one of my Catalina Sky Survey teammates, is leading the effort that will allow you to join our NASA funded adventure in asteroid hunting and discovery. You will learn how to scan our nightly archival images to discover new small solar...121asteroid,astronomy,css,discoverr,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/249e-261-cool-star-homes--56374619This team of astronomers were delighted when a faint star in an infrared star catalogue showed regular dips in brightness indicating the presence of three planets. Followup observations by the European Southern Observatories' 8 meter telescope in Chile confirmed the presence of three Earth sized planets orbiting a star now known as TRAPPIST-1. This extremely faint red star is only slightly larger than the planet Jupiter and puts out 0.05% of the energy of our Sun. Two of its Earth sized planets orbit every 1.5 and 2.4 days receiving four and two times the radiation the Earth receives from our Sun. They are probably two hot to be habitable. The third Earth sized planet orbits farther away and thus might have life permitting temperatures on its surface.
The discovery of three Earth sized planets orbiting the extremely, cool, faint red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 suggests the possibility of the presence of many more relatively nearby Earth like planets. The next generation of ground and space based telescopes will tell us about their surface conditions.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56374619Tue, 29 Aug 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently Dr. Michael Gillon of the University of Liege in Belgium and a team of astronomers hypothesized since that approximately 2/3 of the stars in our neighborhood are red dwarf stars some of them might host inhabitable planets. To test this idea...This team of astronomers were delighted when a faint star in an infrared star catalogue showed regular dips in brightness indicating the presence of three planets. Followup observations by the European Southern Observatories' 8 meter telescope in Chile confirmed the presence of three Earth sized planets orbiting a star now known as TRAPPIST-1. This extremely faint red star is only slightly larger than the planet Jupiter and puts out 0.05% of the energy of our Sun. Two of its Earth sized planets orbit every 1.5 and 2.4 days receiving four and two times the radiation the Earth receives from our Sun. They are probably two hot to be habitable. The third Earth sized planet orbits farther away and thus might have life permitting temperatures on its surface.
The discovery of three Earth sized planets orbiting the extremely, cool, faint red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 suggests the possibility of the presence of many more relatively nearby Earth like planets. The next generation of ground and space based telescopes will tell us about their surface conditions.
]]>121alien,astronomy,coolstar,nasa,planets,redstar,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/759-number-7--56374610https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56374610Fri, 25 Aug 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerHungarian astronomer and geography teacher Krisztián Sárneczky was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Lynx with 0.6m (24 inch) telescope at the Piszkéstető station in the Mátra Mountains when an unknown object streaked through a set of his...121astronomy,earth,fireball,impactor,meteor,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/248e-260-gliding-to-space--56374595The Airbus Perlan II is an engineless glider designed to surf stratospheric mountain waves in our atmosphere to the edge of space. Cruising at 400 mph at an altitude of 90,000 feet this glider with a wing span of 85 feet will become the highest level flying winged vehicle in history and will be able to travel above 98% of the Earth's atmosphere. The cabin of Perlan II is pressurized and is occupied by a crew of two who make their high altitude flights from a base in Argentina.
The Perlan II will carry a package of scientific instruments which will enable it to study the atmosphere without the presence of a polluting engine to bias the measurements. The results will provide important information about our atmosphere which will help humans to adapt to the climate change we have created.
At the highest point of its flight Perlan II will be flying in an atmosphere similar to what exists on the planet Mars.
In the future high flying commercial aircraft in our atmosphere as well as vehicles which will enable us to explore our neighbor Mars will benefit from the data obtained by the Airbus Perlan II.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56374595Tue, 22 Aug 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAbout 20 years ago Dr. Elizabeth Austin began to investigate Polar Vortex winds during the long winter nights near the poles. One of its components, the stratospheric polar night jet, can create 300 mph winds which in turn can project atmospheric...The Airbus Perlan II is an engineless glider designed to surf stratospheric mountain waves in our atmosphere to the edge of space. Cruising at 400 mph at an altitude of 90,000 feet this glider with a wing span of 85 feet will become the highest level flying winged vehicle in history and will be able to travel above 98% of the Earth's atmosphere. The cabin of Perlan II is pressurized and is occupied by a crew of two who make their high altitude flights from a base in Argentina.
The Perlan II will carry a package of scientific instruments which will enable it to study the atmosphere without the presence of a polluting engine to bias the measurements. The results will provide important information about our atmosphere which will help humans to adapt to the climate change we have created.
At the highest point of its flight Perlan II will be flying in an atmosphere similar to what exists on the planet Mars.
In the future high flying commercial aircraft in our atmosphere as well as vehicles which will enable us to explore our neighbor Mars will benefit from the data obtained by the Airbus Perlan II.
]]>121astronomy,glider,nasa,perlanii,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/758-weird-supernova--56370574https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56370574Fri, 18 Aug 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn extremely wide field of view camera, the Zwicky Transient Facility, operated by Caltech on Palomar Mountain in California is able to take images of the entire northern sky every couple of days. This capability has enabled to astronomers to find...121astronomy,nasa,space,supernovafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/247e-259-trans-neptunian--56037772The new object they discovered is now called 2016 EJ203. It is about 3000 feet in diameter and takes 504 years to orbit the Sun on a path which goes from between Mars and Jupiter out to 3 times Pluto's distance from the Sun. In 2016 humans were able to spot 2016 EJ203 during the two weeks every 500 years that it is bright enough for us to detect. The Minor planet Center has classified 2016 EJ203 as a Trans-Neptunian object. Our catalog of these distant places now has several hundred entries ranging in size from Pluto and 4 other large dwarf planets to small objects like 2016 EJ203.
This object may be the nucleus of a burned out comet or a fragment left over from the formation of the solar system.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56037772Tue, 15 Aug 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring the course of a single night our telescopes can find more than 10,000 moving objects. Fortunately our software geniuses are able to sort through this pile to allow us to focus on unknown objects which require additional observations. Most of...The new object they discovered is now called 2016 EJ203. It is about 3000 feet in diameter and takes 504 years to orbit the Sun on a path which goes from between Mars and Jupiter out to 3 times Pluto's distance from the Sun. In 2016 humans were able to spot 2016 EJ203 during the two weeks every 500 years that it is bright enough for us to detect. The Minor planet Center has classified 2016 EJ203 as a Trans-Neptunian object. Our catalog of these distant places now has several hundred entries ranging in size from Pluto and 4 other large dwarf planets to small objects like 2016 EJ203.
This object may be the nucleus of a burned out comet or a fragment left over from the formation of the solar system.
]]>121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,nasa,neptune,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/757-alien-signals--56037750https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56037750Fri, 11 Aug 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerProject Breakthrough Listen is spending $100 million over 10 years so that radio telescopes can search for signals which may indicate extraterrestrial intelligence.In a recent article in the Astronomical Journal a team of astronomers published a...121alien,breakthrough,earth,intelligent,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/246e-258-odds-of-aliens--56037704https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56037704Tue, 08 Aug 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently Dr. Adam Frank of the University of Rochester and Dr Woodruff Sullivan of the University of Washington published a paper in which they addressed the question "What are the odds that humans are the only technological species that has ever...121aliens,astronomy,exoplanet,intelligent,life,nasa,space,speciesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/756-nice-pha--56037671https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56037671Fri, 04 Aug 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate David Rankin was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Cancer with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona when he discovered a potentially hazardous asteroid, 2023 KM5.Rest assured there is no way, on its...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/245e-257-raw-asteroid--56037660https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56037660Tue, 01 Aug 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMost asteroids that we observe have been baked by the Sun for billions of years. As a result, any ices or frozen gases that they may have once possessed are long gone. Comets on the other hand have spent so much time far from the Sun that they still...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,nasa,sapce,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/755-geyser-of-life-maybe--56037403https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56037403Fri, 28 Jul 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2023 the James Webb Space Telescope spotted a geyser of water vapor extending more than 80% of the Earth’s diameter erupting from Saturn’s moon Enceladus. If life does exist in the salty ocean of Enceladus shielded from the rest of the Universe by...121alien,enceladus,jameswebbtelescope,life,nasa,oceans,saturn,space,waterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/244e-256-pale-blue-dot--56036537https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56036537Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMore than 25 years ago Voyager 1 took a picture of the Earth from beyond Pluto's orbit. This image shows our home planet to be an isolated tiny pale blue dot floating in the vastness of space.121blue,dot,earth,nasa,pale,space,voyagerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/754-very-fast-moving-objects-in-the-night-sky--56036511https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56036511Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerVery small fast moving asteroids pass through our solar system.About once a month an object like 2023 KU4 enters our atmosphere, releases the energy of approximately 2.4 tons of TNT, explodes at an altitude of about 280,000 feet, creates a...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,meteorites,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/243e-255-earth-venus-express--56036471https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56036471Tue, 18 Jul 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerWe will probably never know the details of the collision that put my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls' recent discovery, 2016 HD3, on its current path. What we do know is that Carson's new space rock is about 25 feet in diameter and in the...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,space,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/753-impactor-lights-up-the-night-sky--54256316https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54256316Fri, 14 Jul 2023 07:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerVery small fast moving asteroids pass through our solar system.About once a month an object like 2023 KU4 enters our atmosphere, releases the energy of approximately 2.4 tons of TNT, explodes at an altitude of about 280,000 feet, creates a spectacular...121asteroid,astronomy,meteor,meteorite,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/242e-254-blinded--54255698https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54255698Tue, 11 Jul 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerBlinded by inappropriate outdoor night lighting, much of humanity is now unaware of the rich beauty of the Universe which surrounds them. To see sights which have inspired countless generations of lovers, poets, scientists, authors, artists,...121anthropogenic,astronomy,lightpollution,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/752-lunker--54092337https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54092337Fri, 07 Jul 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Jacqueline Fazekas was asteroid hunting , in the evening twilight, with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when she discovered a very large object in an unusual orbit. Rest assured that astronomers will...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/241e-253-lunar-village--54092296https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54092296Tue, 04 Jul 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerCovered by a blanket of lunar soil to protect it from BB sized meteoroids arriving a gunshot speeds, a village is nestled in a large crater on our moon. The individual structures are connected together by tunnels. The site was chosen to access the...121astronomy,colonists,lunar,moon,nasa,settlers,space,villagefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/751-ball-pit--53962952https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53962952Fri, 30 Jun 2023 20:20:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerTo the amazement of NASA scientists, when the NASA OSIRIS-Rex touched down on the surface of Bennu to obtain a sample, the sample collecting arm continued to sink into Bennu until rocket thrusters reversed its downward motion and allowing it to escape.121astronomy,ballpit,bennu,earth,impact,nasa,osirus-rex,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/240e-252-the-king--53962928Jupiter, the king of our solar system, has provided us with a place to stand and air to breathe.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53962928Tue, 27 Jun 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerJupiter protects us as well as directs some objects our way. Jupiter, the king of our solar system, has provided us with a place to stand and air to breathe.Jupiter, the king of our solar system, has provided us with a place to stand and air to breathe.]]>121astronomy,earth,hst,hubble,jupiter,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/750-asteroid-slam-538--53962891https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53962891Fri, 23 Jun 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerHumans are slamming projectiles into space rocks. These experiments will give us the know how to deal with a dangerous space rock which has our number on it121astronomy,crater,dart,earth,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/239e-251-fresh-lunar-craters--53962868Fresh lunar craters tell us about objects which enter the Earth-Moon system.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53962868Tue, 20 Jun 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe moon is being hit by objects in the present epoch. Fresh lunar craters tell us about objects which enter the Earth-Moon system.Fresh lunar craters tell us about objects which enter the Earth-Moon system.]]>121astronomy,crater,earth,meteoroid,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/749-earth-glow-537--53960263https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53960263Fri, 16 Jun 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 1972 Apollo 16 astronauts took an ultraviolet image of the Earth from the Moon which shows that like the Sun ,the Earth too, has a faint corona of gas surrounding it. Scientists are just beginning to explore how Earth's glow relates to our weather...121astronauts,astronomy,earth,glow,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/238e-250-born-wild--53960231Our home planet was formed after a period of chaos in the solar system
Today our solar system is a pretty calm place. However, meteorites we find on Earth as well as the cratering we observe on our Moon, Mercury, Mars, and other bodies suggest that our solar system was born wild and stayed that way for a while. There is also the puzzling fact that our sparsely packed inner solar system is very different from the densely packed, close in, planetary systems which have formed about nearby stars.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53960231Fri, 16 Jun 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerJupiter and Saturn helped to produce where we live. Our home planet was formed after a period of chaos in the solar system Today our solar system is a pretty calm place. However, meteorites we find on Earth as well as the cratering we observe on our...Our home planet was formed after a period of chaos in the solar system
Today our solar system is a pretty calm place. However, meteorites we find on Earth as well as the cratering we observe on our Moon, Mercury, Mars, and other bodies suggest that our solar system was born wild and stayed that way for a while. There is also the puzzling fact that our sparsely packed inner solar system is very different from the densely packed, close in, planetary systems which have formed about nearby stars.]]>121astronomy,collision,earth,jupiter,saturn,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/748-ultima-thule-536--53960192https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53960192Fri, 09 Jun 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerTraveling an additional billion miles beyond Pluto, the New Horizons spacecraft is now sending back data on 2014 MU69, a strange snow man shaped object which orbits the Sun once every 298 years. The New Horizons is spacecraft is likely to continue its...121astronomy,earth,nasa,pluto,solarsystem,space,ulta,ultimathulefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/237e-249-tough-tourist--53960037A block and a half sized asteroid makes visits to Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53960037Tue, 06 Jun 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerRocky metallic asteroid can stand the heat. A block and a half sized asteroid makes visits to Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter.A block and a half sized asteroid makes visits to Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter.]]>121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/747-alone-or-not-535--53560723https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53560723Fri, 02 Jun 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn our Milky Way Galaxy alone there are probably 25 billion planets located within the habitable zone of its star where there could be air to breathe and liquid water on its surface. The search is on for advanced civilizations .121aliens,astronomy,breakthrough,earth,exoplanet,laser,nasa,rocket,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/236e-248-incoming--53560630A close approaching asteroid was observed as it passed between the Earth and our Moon.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53560630Tue, 30 May 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhat happens when an asteroid is heading in our direction. A close approaching asteroid was observed as it passed between the Earth and our Moon.A close approaching asteroid was observed as it passed between the Earth and our Moon.]]>121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,impactor,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/746-followups-534--53560540https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53560540Fri, 26 May 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerWithout followup data, many if not most of the Earth approaching objects would be lost as they move away from us leaving us with no idea when they might return to near Earth space or perhaps even strike our home planet.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/235e-247-potential-mining-target--53560473https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53560473Tue, 23 May 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammates have discovered an asteroid which could be a potential mining target. Mining asteroids may be a much cheaper way to get the raw materials that space colonists need when compared to the cost of lugging supplies up from...121asteroid,colonists,earth,mining,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/745-100-moons-533--53560446https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53560446Fri, 19 May 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA small telescope makes a substantial contribution to our knowledge of the celestial visitors to our neighborhood121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/234e-246-anatomy-of-an-extinction-crater--53560396https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53560396Tue, 16 May 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerBy drilling into a crater rim, researchers hope to discover how the Earth and it's life forms recovered from an asteroid impact.121asteroid,astronomy,crater,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/744-teddy-s-debut-532--53560287https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53560287Fri, 12 May 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn a recent training night with Teddy Pruyne at the controls of our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona, this duo discovered six new Earth Approaching Objects, an inner main belt asteroid, and rediscovered an inner main belt asteroid which had...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/233e-245-asteroid-awareness--53560247Recently in response to a question from a reader of the "Asteroid Day" blog, my Catalina Sky Survey team captain Eric Christensen, wrote a blog piece entitled "Is It Just Me, Or Are Asteroids More Dangerous They Used To Be?".]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53560247Tue, 09 May 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerYou are less likely to be injured by a space rock than you might think Recently in response to a question from a reader of the "Asteroid Day" blog, my Catalina Sky Survey team captain Eric Christensen, wrote a blog piece entitled "Is It Just Me, Or...Recently in response to a question from a reader of the "Asteroid Day" blog, my Catalina Sky Survey team captain Eric Christensen, wrote a blog piece entitled "Is It Just Me, Or Are Asteroids More Dangerous They Used To Be?".]]>121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/743-alex-s-catch-531--53560208
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53560208Fri, 05 May 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn a cold windy night, with clouds frustrating his search, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Alex Gibbs discovered 8 new celestial visitors while observing with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona
]]>121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/232e-244-earths-wobble--53560175https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53560175Tue, 02 May 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerA careful study of the Earth's motion in space is a key to understanding past climate change and enables us to predict future patterns of flooding and drought.Wobbles tell all.121astronomy,climate,earth,nasa,space,weather,wobblefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/742-cuban-meteorites-530--53560064https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53560064Fri, 28 Apr 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA large fireball meteor which exploded over Cuba produced a number of interesting results.121astronomy,earth,fireball,meteor,meteorite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/231e-243-comet-ahoy--53559923https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53559923Tue, 25 Apr 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently a relatively dim object, Comet P/2016 BA14 flew past Earth at about 9 times the distance to our Moon from us. It was the third closest comet approach in recorded history. This situation allowed NASA scientists to use the Goldstone Solar...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/741-africano-529--53464032https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53464032Fri, 21 Apr 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey Teammate Brian Africano discovered his 4th comet while asteroid hunting in the constellation of Ursa Major with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona. Observers with small telescopes equipped with electronic cameras are...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/230e-242-spray-paint--52576705Will spray paint save the world?
Recently, NASA scientists using the giant RADAR telescope in Puerto Rico measured changes in the orbit of the asteroid Bennu. They found that a tiny sunlight pressure of 1/2 oz on this 68 million ton object has changed it's orbit about a hundred miles over a 12 year period of time. These NASA astronomers thus measured the Yarkovsky force which was first suggested by a Russian engineer more than a hundred years ago. This Yarkovsky force, named for its proposer, occurs because sunlight absorbed by an object in space is reradiated in a directional way and thus acts like a tiny rocket motor. It is likely that, over the eons, this tiny effect has changed the course of families of asteroids between Mars and Jupiter causing some of them to be sent in our direction.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576705Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA gentle method of causing an asteroid to miss planet Earth. Will spray paint save the world? Recently, NASA scientists using the giant RADAR telescope in Puerto Rico measured changes in the orbit of the asteroid Bennu. They found that a tiny sunlight...Will spray paint save the world?
Recently, NASA scientists using the giant RADAR telescope in Puerto Rico measured changes in the orbit of the asteroid Bennu. They found that a tiny sunlight pressure of 1/2 oz on this 68 million ton object has changed it's orbit about a hundred miles over a 12 year period of time. These NASA astronomers thus measured the Yarkovsky force which was first suggested by a Russian engineer more than a hundred years ago. This Yarkovsky force, named for its proposer, occurs because sunlight absorbed by an object in space is reradiated in a directional way and thus acts like a tiny rocket motor. It is likely that, over the eons, this tiny effect has changed the course of families of asteroids between Mars and Jupiter causing some of them to be sent in our direction.
]]>121apophis,astronomy,earth,jupiter,nasa,space,spraypaintfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/740-asteroid-billiards-528--52576660https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576660Fri, 14 Apr 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerNASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test or DART for short will test methods to make a dangerous asteroid miss Earth121asteroid,earth,impact,jupiter,nasa,redirect,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/229e-241-could-be-twins--52576626It is hard to have a personal feel for the microgravity of a comet since it is only a few ten thousandths of the pull of gravity we experience on Earth. When a comet comes near Jupiter or perhaps the Earth the tiny gravity which holds it together can be overwhelmed by gravity of the larger object and the comet's structure disrupted.
Astronomers have observed comets breaking up into smaller pieces as they orbit the Sun. In a spectacular example, more than 20 years ago Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 became a beautiful string of comets before it crashed into Jupiter.
Recently on two consecutive days, Comet P/2016 BA14 (PANSTARRS) and Comet 252P (LINEAR) both passed within a few million miles of planet Earth. These two objects have remarkably similar orbits which take them from near Earth out to close to the giant planet Jupiter. This situation suggests that the smaller of the two, P/2016 BA14, could be a fragment of Comet 252P which calved off of the parent object during a previous close encounter with Jupiter, Mars, or the Earth.
Currently, Astronomers are using data from the Hubble Space Telescope and NASA's Infrared telescope in Hawaii to look for clues as to the nature of these potentially twin objects.
Comet 252P and P/2016 BA14 will not come this close to Earth again for millennia and are not threat to Earth. What makes them unusual is the opportunity given to humans to study these wanderers of the solar system relatively close up and personal.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576626Tue, 11 Apr 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA pair of possibly related comets pass unusually close to Earth. It is hard to have a personal feel for the microgravity of a comet since it is only a few ten thousandths of the pull of gravity we experience on Earth. When a comet comes near Jupiter...It is hard to have a personal feel for the microgravity of a comet since it is only a few ten thousandths of the pull of gravity we experience on Earth. When a comet comes near Jupiter or perhaps the Earth the tiny gravity which holds it together can be overwhelmed by gravity of the larger object and the comet's structure disrupted.
Astronomers have observed comets breaking up into smaller pieces as they orbit the Sun. In a spectacular example, more than 20 years ago Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 became a beautiful string of comets before it crashed into Jupiter.
Recently on two consecutive days, Comet P/2016 BA14 (PANSTARRS) and Comet 252P (LINEAR) both passed within a few million miles of planet Earth. These two objects have remarkably similar orbits which take them from near Earth out to close to the giant planet Jupiter. This situation suggests that the smaller of the two, P/2016 BA14, could be a fragment of Comet 252P which calved off of the parent object during a previous close encounter with Jupiter, Mars, or the Earth.
Currently, Astronomers are using data from the Hubble Space Telescope and NASA's Infrared telescope in Hawaii to look for clues as to the nature of these potentially twin objects.
Comet 252P and P/2016 BA14 will not come this close to Earth again for millennia and are not threat to Earth. What makes them unusual is the opportunity given to humans to study these wanderers of the solar system relatively close up and personal.
]]>121comet,earth,jupiter,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/739-comet-groller-527--52576601https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576601Fri, 07 Apr 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Hannes Groller was asteroid hunting with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona when he discovered his first comet. After the Sun bakes out all of the frozen gasses, Hannes's Comet, will lose its coma and tail...121astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/228e-240-why--52576563Large dangerous asteroids are still out there to find.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576563Tue, 04 Apr 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhat motivates asteroid hunters? Large dangerous asteroids are still out there to find.Large dangerous asteroids are still out there to find.]]>121asteroid,astronomy,earth,jupiter,mars,nasa,space,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/738-tiny-visitor-526--52576537https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576537Fri, 31 Mar 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA tiny space rock passes through the cloud of communications satellites surrounding the Earth.121asteroid,astronomy,communication,earth,esa,nasa,satellites,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/227e-239-martian-lakes--52576527https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576527Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerWe may be able to learn about the possibilities of life on Mars by studying land forms on the Tibetan Plateau here on Earth.121astronomy,earth,lake,mars,nasa,space,tibet,waterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/737-collision-525--52576505https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576505Fri, 24 Mar 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerI was asteroid hunting with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Steve Larson sent me an email requesting that I obtain some images of the asteroid 6478 Gault. Several days earlier, using mountain top...121asteroid,astronomy,collision,earth,jupiter,mars,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/226e-238-now-three--52576488The Catalina Sky Survey began with the University of Arizona's 30 inch Schmidt Telescope on Mt. Bigelow. This telescope became the world leader when it was used to discover 148 Earth approaching objects in 2005. It found the most Potentially Hazardous Asteroids for the next three years running. In 2006 the University of Arizona's 60 inch telescope on nearby Mt. Lemmon received a new camera and many upgrades. In spite of the fact that this telescope was old enough for senior citizen discounts it rapidly became the world's leader in the discovery of Earth approaching asteroids. These telescopes began to make so many discoveries that a telescope which could observe newly discovered objects long enough so that their orbits around the Sun could be nailed down became a necessity. To fill this need an old unused 40 inch telescope was overhauled and installed in a new dome next to the 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon.
The plan for the refurbished 40 inch was make it a robot with software designed specifically to track newly discovered Earth approaching asteroids. As might be expected such a software system is easier to think about that it is to implement. Alex Gibbs who is the Catalina Sky Survey's principal engineer took on this herculean task.
The result is a followup telescope which really works well. This has relieved the 60 inch of followup duties which is allowing it to spend more time searching the skies for new objects.
The Catalina Sky Survey now operates three telescopes, 24 nights per month, in the Catalina mountains north of Tucson, Arizona.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576488Tue, 21 Mar 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Catalina Sky Survey now operates three telescopes, 24 nights per month, in the Catalina mountains north of Tucson, Arizona. The Catalina Sky Survey began with the University of Arizona's 30 inch Schmidt Telescope on Mt. Bigelow. This telescope...The Catalina Sky Survey began with the University of Arizona's 30 inch Schmidt Telescope on Mt. Bigelow. This telescope became the world leader when it was used to discover 148 Earth approaching objects in 2005. It found the most Potentially Hazardous Asteroids for the next three years running. In 2006 the University of Arizona's 60 inch telescope on nearby Mt. Lemmon received a new camera and many upgrades. In spite of the fact that this telescope was old enough for senior citizen discounts it rapidly became the world's leader in the discovery of Earth approaching asteroids. These telescopes began to make so many discoveries that a telescope which could observe newly discovered objects long enough so that their orbits around the Sun could be nailed down became a necessity. To fill this need an old unused 40 inch telescope was overhauled and installed in a new dome next to the 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon.
The plan for the refurbished 40 inch was make it a robot with software designed specifically to track newly discovered Earth approaching asteroids. As might be expected such a software system is easier to think about that it is to implement. Alex Gibbs who is the Catalina Sky Survey's principal engineer took on this herculean task.
The result is a followup telescope which really works well. This has relieved the 60 inch of followup duties which is allowing it to spend more time searching the skies for new objects.
The Catalina Sky Survey now operates three telescopes, 24 nights per month, in the Catalina mountains north of Tucson, Arizona.
]]>121asteroid,astronomy,earth,meteor,moon,nasa,schmidt,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/736-home-wrecker-524--52576473https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576473Fri, 17 Mar 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe extremely remote chance that a dangerous mountain sized space rock has our number on it is what keeps my team going to our four telescopes in the Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, Arizona.121asteroid,css,earth,impact,nasa,space,spacerock,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/225e-237-lost--52576416In 1916 the 60 inch Hale telescope on Mt. Wilson, California was the largest telescope in the world.
Seth Nicholson and Harlow Shapley used it to discover a 2 mile diameter asteroid. They only observed their new asteroid twice on their discovery night. Shapley named the asteroid Mildred for his one year old daughter. Nicholson and Shapley were able to find asteroid Mildred a couple of times during the month after it's discovery. After that it's 1324 day orbit around the Sun was so poorly defined that astronomers did not know where to point their telescopes to observe it and Mildred was declared "lost". Friends of Mildred Shapley Matthews would always ask her if she was found yet. In fact it was not until she was 76 years old that Dr. Gareth Williams rediscovered "lost" asteroid Mildred. After 3/4 of a century of being lost Mildred was found.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576416Tue, 14 Mar 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe asteroid named for Mildred Shapley Matthews was lost in the solar system for 75 years. In 1916 the 60 inch Hale telescope on Mt. Wilson, California was the largest telescope in the world. Seth Nicholson and Harlow Shapley used it to discover a 2...In 1916 the 60 inch Hale telescope on Mt. Wilson, California was the largest telescope in the world.
Seth Nicholson and Harlow Shapley used it to discover a 2 mile diameter asteroid. They only observed their new asteroid twice on their discovery night. Shapley named the asteroid Mildred for his one year old daughter. Nicholson and Shapley were able to find asteroid Mildred a couple of times during the month after it's discovery. After that it's 1324 day orbit around the Sun was so poorly defined that astronomers did not know where to point their telescopes to observe it and Mildred was declared "lost". Friends of Mildred Shapley Matthews would always ask her if she was found yet. In fact it was not until she was 76 years old that Dr. Gareth Williams rediscovered "lost" asteroid Mildred. After 3/4 of a century of being lost Mildred was found.
]]>121asteroid,astronomy,earth,mildred,nasa,solarsystem,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/735-one-thousand-523--52576388https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576388Fri, 10 Mar 2023 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerFor the first time in history, an asteroid hunting team, the Catalina Sky Survey, has discovered more than 1,000 Earth approaching asteroids in a single year. They are an interesting part of our environment.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,meteor,meteorite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/224e-236-enceladus-s-ocean--52576343https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576343Tue, 07 Mar 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerPound for pound Saturn's moon Enceladus is the brightest object in our solar system. It is so shiny that it reflects most of the sunlight that strikes it. Since Enceladus absorbs little sunlight it's surface is 330 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Below...121astronomy,earth,enceladus,jupiter,life?,liquidwater,nasa,ocean,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/734-comets-africano-522--52576330https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576330Fri, 03 Mar 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring Comet C/2018 V4 Africano's last visit to the inner solar system humans were erecting the outer ring at Stonehenge. At the rate human's are changing the Earth's climate who can guess what will be happening on Earth when this comet returns in...121astronomy,comet,earth,ison,jupiter,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/223e-235-fragment--52576286https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576286Tue, 28 Feb 2023 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerMillions of years ago two large asteroids collided in the asteroid belt. Pieces were sent flying in all directions. A few of them were put into orbits which rise high above and below the plane of the solar system as they continued to travel around the...121asteroid,astronomy,collision,earth,impact,nasa,space,spacerockfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/733-lunar-space-rock-521--52576252https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576252Fri, 24 Feb 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Hannes Groller discovered an Earth approaching asteroid which has a speed consistent with it being ejected from the Moon by the impact of an asteroid or comet long ago. 69 hours after Hannes discovered it,...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,moon,nasa,rocks,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/222e-234-salty-and-cold--52576191]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576191Tue, 21 Feb 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThere is increasing evidence that Jupiter's moon Europa, Saturn's moon Enceladus, and other bodies in our solar system have oceans of salty liquid water in contact with warm rock layers. We know that on Earth life abounds under these conditions around...]]>121astronomy,europa,jupiter,life,nasa,oceans,space,waterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/732-comet-lemmon-520--52576147https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576147Fri, 17 Feb 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerComets Travel Between Stars. An interstellar traveler visits our neighborhood on its tour of the Milky Way. Comet Lemmon will continue on a hyperbolic path into deep space. In 2043 it will be further than the average distance that Pluto is from our...121astronomy,comet,earth,ison,jupiter,mars,nasa,pluto,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/221e-233-tiny-visitor--52576116https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52576116Tue, 14 Feb 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroids are part of our environment.An SUV sized space rock has spent eons traveling through the silent vacuum of space. In the past 50 years, without humans being aware of its existence, it has made 29 close approaches to planet Earth and 11 visits...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,jupiter,nasa,saturn,space,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/731-greg-s-comet-519--52503846https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52503846Fri, 10 Feb 2023 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe discovery of a Jupiter family comet whose fate is to become a garden variety main belt asteroid.121astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/220e-232-dangerous-aten--52503827https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52503827Tue, 07 Feb 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAten asteroids pose a threat as well as an economic opportunity for humans.121asteroid,astronomy,aten,earth,moon,nasa,space,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/730-busy-night-518--52503780https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52503780Fri, 03 Feb 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn Halloween night while observing with the Catalina Sky Survey's 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona I discovered 21 space rocks streaking through the night sky. The most interesting one could be the destination of asteroid miners.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,jupiter,marsd,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/219e-231-hot-hand--52335152https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52335152Tue, 31 Jan 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerEvery year asteroid hunters discover about a hundred objects which are larger than 450 feet in diameter and come closer than 20 times the Moon's distance from us. We call these potentially hazardous asteroids. In 2015 my group the Catalina Sky Survey...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,esa,jupiter,mars,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/729-close-again-517--52335106https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52335106Fri, 27 Jan 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAs asteroid hunters equipment and skills continue to improve we will be able to find and track some of these tiny impactors and perhaps be able to suggest where to find pieces of one of them on the ground.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,jupiter,mars,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/218e-230-close-or-not--52335082https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52335082Tue, 24 Jan 2023 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2013 my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Steve Larson discovered a space rock streaking through the night sky. For the next 3 days this object was observed by telescopes in California, England, Chile, and New Mexico and given the name 2013 TX68. About...121asteroid,astronomy,jupiter,mars,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/728-space-weather-516--52220782https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52220782Fri, 20 Jan 2023 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerSpace is not all that far away. If a powerful solar eruption in 2012 had happened a week earlier, the blast of radiation would have caused wide spread power blackouts disabling everything that plugs into a wall socket as well as the water and sewer...121astronomy,aurora,earth,solarstorm,space,spaceweather,sunfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/217e-229-close-duo--52220754https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52220754Tue, 17 Jan 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn consecutive nights my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski discovered two very close approaching asteroids. One of Richard's discoveries, 2016 BY14 must be made out of pretty tough stuff since when it was closest to the Sun it received...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,mars,mercury,nasa,space,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/727-dust-moons-515--52220688https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52220688Fri, 13 Jan 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn a dance of unequal partners the Earth and Moon orbit a common center of gravity which itself travels about the Sun. Leading and trailing the moon's twisted path by 60 degrees, are the L4 and L5 Lagrange points, where gravitational forces create a...121astronomy,earth,l4,l5,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/216e-228-alien-contact--52220658You could wake up any morning to the news that humans have found life beyond our planet. It could be fossils of ancient life on Mars. It could be the discovery of micro organisms in one of the salty oceans on the asteroid Ceres, the moons of Jupiter, Europa and Ganymede, and/or Enceladus the strange little moon of Saturn. It could be the reception of electromagnetic signals from a distant advanced civilization. Lacking hard evidence many of us continue to look into the night sky and wonder what is out there]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52220658Tue, 10 Jan 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerHumans are searching the Universe to discover life outside of our Planet. You could wake up any morning to the news that humans have found life beyond our planet. It could be fossils of ancient life on Mars. It could be the discovery of micro...You could wake up any morning to the news that humans have found life beyond our planet. It could be fossils of ancient life on Mars. It could be the discovery of micro organisms in one of the salty oceans on the asteroid Ceres, the moons of Jupiter, Europa and Ganymede, and/or Enceladus the strange little moon of Saturn. It could be the reception of electromagnetic signals from a distant advanced civilization. Lacking hard evidence many of us continue to look into the night sky and wonder what is out there]]>121alien,astronomy,earth,et,extraterrestrial,nasa,planet,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/726-close-space-rocks-514--52220632https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52220632Fri, 06 Jan 2023 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerSince 1900 there have been 11 close approaches by asteroids larger than 300 feet in diameter. One of them, the Tunguska Object was about 400 feet in diameter. It entered the Earth's atmosphere and exploded with such force that it blew down trees over...121asteroid,earth,impactor,jupiter,mars,nasa,space,telescope,tunguskafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/215e-227-planet-9--52220586https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52220586Sun, 01 Jan 2023 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAstronomers are searching the solar system for new planets. Calculations based on the orbits of the distant objects out near Pluto suggest the existence of a 10 Earth mass planet twenty times farther from the Sun than the planet Neptune. At its great...121astronomy,earth,nasa,neptune,planet9,pluto,space,sun,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/725-mtn-ops-513--51877855https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51877855Fri, 30 Dec 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy team, the Catalina Sky Survey, would not find a single asteroid without Steward Observatory's Mountain Lemmon Operations, or Mtn Ops for short. Bottom line is that Mtn Ops does whatever it takes to make our Asteroid Hunting facilities continue to...121asteroids,astronomy,earth,nasa,observatory,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/214e-226-cosmic-campground--51873318https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51873318Tue, 27 Dec 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Cosmic Campground is one of the last places where one can experience the natural night sky in the lower 48.121astronomy,campground,cosmic,cosmiccampground,nasa,nightsky,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/724-aten-512--51873297https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51873297Fri, 23 Dec 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAten Asteroids are stealthy space rocks which can be dim and hard to detect since for most of their path about the Sun their illuminated side is facing away from us.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,moon,nasa,space,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/213e-225-greg-scores--51873286https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51873286Tue, 20 Dec 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey team mate Greg Leonard finds an interesting potentially hazardous asteroid.Since asteroid hunter's main concern are the large space rocks which we don't know about, my team the Catalina Sky Survey continues to scan the skies 24...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,jupiter,mars,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/723-very-close-one-510--51873245https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51873245Fri, 16 Dec 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerTen hours and 46 minutes after my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard discovered a Toyota RAV4 sized space rock, now named 2018 UA, streaking through the constellation of Pegasus at 8.8 miles/second, this tiny asteroid passed less than 1/2 the...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,moon,nasa,space,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/212e-224-aten-ahead--51873199https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51873199Tue, 13 Dec 2022 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerAten asteroids spend most of their time inside the Earth's orbit, come close to us, travel at speeds our rockets can match, and may be an economical source of raw materials for space exploration.121asteroid,astronomy,aten,colonists,mining,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/722-close-509--51873173https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51873173Fri, 09 Dec 2022 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerUntil recently the discovery of very close approaching asteroids was rare, however, due to improvements in telescopes, cameras, and computers asteroid hunters are now finding a significant number of these small celestial visitors to our neighborhood...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,jupiter,mars,moon,nasa,space,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/211e-223-back-home--51873145https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51873145Tue, 06 Dec 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA mysterious piece of space hardware comes back to Earth.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,moon,nasa,oldrocket,rocketbooster,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/721-eric-s-night-507--51873119https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51873119Fri, 02 Dec 2022 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid hunters are developing the equipment and skills which enable them to predict the impact of tiny space rocks. Thus in the future you may have the opportunity to witness the light show an impactor creates and perhaps even obtain clues which...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/209e-221-human-geological-epoch--51292155https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51292155Tue, 29 Nov 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerHumans are creating a new geological epoch121astronomy,change,climate,climatechange,earth,geology,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/720-large-pha-506--51292134https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51292134Fri, 25 Nov 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Pegasus with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona when he discovered a 2,000 foot diameter space rock streaking through the night sky. The...121astreroid,astronomy,css,earth,jupiter,mars,nasa,space,vestafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/208e-220-deuce--51292070https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51292070Tue, 22 Nov 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA pair of comet discoveries are reported in the space of 31 hours121astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,mars,nasa,neowise,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/719-what-a-night-505--51292048https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51292048Fri, 18 Nov 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerTo give you an idea of the celestial traffic in our neighborhood, on a recent clear night, using our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Hannes Groller posted 20 new objects on the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth...121asteroid,astronomy,benu,css,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/207e-219-zero--51292027https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51292027Tue, 15 Nov 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA small asteroid's path around the Sun very nearly crosses that of Earth.121asteroid,astronomy,css,earth,jupiter,mars,nasa,space,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/718-vulcan-504--51291531https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51291531Fri, 11 Nov 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the fictional Star Trek series, Vulcan, Spock's home planet was imagined to orbit the A component of the triple star system 40 Eridani [Eri-dani ]. Recently astronomers using the Dharma Planet Survey 50 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona have...121alien,alienlife,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,spock,universityflorida,vulcanfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/206e-218-still-out-there--51291425https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51291425Tue, 08 Nov 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerUnknown large dangerous Earth approaching asteroids are still out there121asteroid,astronomy,earth,mars,moon,nasa,pha,space,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/717-fuls-iii-503--51291413https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51291413Fri, 04 Nov 2022 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls discovered his third comet, Comet C/2018 R4 (Fuls). It is now on its way back into deep space. Given the climate change Earth is experiencing it is hard to predict the state of our planet and...121astronomy,comet,css,earth,jupiter,mars,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/205e-217-how-close--51291082https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51291082Tue, 01 Nov 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerEarth approaching asteroids are found by their motion in the sky.121astronomy,css,earth,mars,nasa,solarsystem,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/716-pair-of-phas-502--51291064https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51291064Fri, 28 Oct 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid Hunters keep careful track of nearly 2,000 Potentially Hazardous Asteroids [PHAs] to make sure that they are no threat to humanity. The recent discovery of two new PHAs reminds us that there are many still out there to be discovered and followed.121asteroid,astronomy,css,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/204e-216-blinky-revealed--51290772https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51290772Tue, 25 Oct 2022 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn Earth approaching asteroid is found to triple in brightness every 9 minutes.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,magdalena,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/715-carson-s-night-501--51290747https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51290747Fri, 21 Oct 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA small space rock is spotted 4 days before it came very close to the Earth and our Moon.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,esa,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/203e-215-blinky--51290703https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51290703Tue, 18 Oct 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA rapidly spinning asteroid comes close to both the Earth and our Moon.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/714-why-look-500--51290674https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51290674Fri, 14 Oct 2022 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhat asteroid hunters fear is that a small space rock capable of injuring people and damaging buildings is heading our way and that we will not find it in time to give a warning for people in the impact area to seek cover.121astronomy,earth,nasa,solarsystem,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/202e-214-jupiter-s-comets--51290639https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51290639Tue, 11 Oct 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe giant planet Jupiter has its own family of comets orbiting our Sun.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/713-oppy-499--51290631https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51290631Fri, 07 Oct 2022 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe NASA Mars Opportunity Rover, nicked named Oppy by those who operate and love it ,was designed to last 90 days on the Martian surface but has continued to explore the surface of the red planet for 14 years.121alien,astronomy,earth,life,mars,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/201e-213-great-night--51290617https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51290617Tue, 04 Oct 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA dozen Earth approaching asteroid candidates are discovered in a single night.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,mars,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/712-tiny-travelers-498--51290419https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51290419Fri, 30 Sep 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAlthough small space rocks pose no threat to humans, they are an interesting part of our environment, offer a chance for asteroid hunters to develop their tracking skills, and occasionally provide an opportunity for a meteorite hunter to touch an...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,mars,nasa,space,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/200e-212-dead-comet--51039213https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51039213Tue, 27 Sep 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA potentially hazardous dead comet makes a close approach to Earth121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,impact,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/711-first-one-496--51039190https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51039190Fri, 23 Sep 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid hunters were able to discover a small Earth approaching asteroid after 57 nights of continuous rain and clouds.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/199e-211-smoking-moon--51039141https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51039141Tue, 20 Sep 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerHumans have discovered oceans of liquid salty water on four small worlds in our solar system. Could living things be flourishing in these alien environments?121alien,astronomy,life,liquidwater,nasa,oceans,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/710-boomer-496--51039097https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51039097Fri, 16 Sep 2022 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe fireball meteor streaking across the sky the early evening of January 17, 2018, witnessed by 700 observers in 11 States and Canada was also recorded by infrasonic microphones and seismometers. Scientific studies of this event gives researchers the...121astronomy,chelyabinsk,earth,fireball,meteor,meteorite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/198e-210-life-s-core--51039049https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51039049Tue, 13 Sep 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAll life has a common core which can guide our search for life outside of our planet.121alien,astronomy,earth,exoplanet,life,mars,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/709-catching-asteroids-495--51039017https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51039017Fri, 09 Sep 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid Mining Is Possible. It might be possible to catch an asteroid, place it into Earth orbit, and thus provide a ready source of precious metals and water for space colonists to use.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,mining,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/197e-209-stretch-marked-moon--51038984https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51038984Tue, 06 Sep 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMars is in the process of turning a moon into a ring121astronauts,astronomy,mars,moon,nasa,phobos,ring,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/708-guard-down-494--50670279https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50670279Fri, 02 Sep 2022 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2018, July and August were cloudy and rainy in both Arizona and Hawaii sidelining the worlds two most productive asteroid hunting surveys. A cost effective way to make the Earth's planetary defense system more weather proof is to put a network of...121asteroid,astronomy,catalina,catalinaskysurvey,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/196e-208-hot-lunation--50670265https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50670265Tue, 30 Aug 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy team the Catalina Sky Survey discovers 89 new Earth approaching objects in 24 nights.121asteroids,astronomy,discovery,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/707-ringed-dynamo-493--50670214https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50670214Fri, 26 Aug 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerEven though humans have been aware of the planet Saturn from from the dawn of history this beautiful object still offers mysteries for us to explore.121astronomy,earth,nasa,planets,saturn,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/195e-207-carbon-comets--50670187https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50670187Tue, 23 Aug 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerComets may have brought the life enabling element Carbon to our planet.121astronomy,carbon,comet,life,nasa,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/706-wonders-to-behold-492--50670148https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50670148Fri, 19 Aug 2022 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerFrom the time 3 million years ago that our ancestor Lucy walked in what is now Ethiopia until the widespread use of electric lighting began in the 1880s the changing panorama and awe inspiring beauty of the natural night sky was available to most...121astronomy,cosmiccampground,lightpollution,nasa,nightsky,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/194e-206-stealthy-asteroids--50144878https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50144878Tue, 16 Aug 2022 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe NASA NEOWISE satellite has discovered a family of dark, stealthy asteroids some of which make close approaches to planet Earth.121asteroid,astronomy,infrared,nasa,neowise,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/705-one-half-inch-491--50144749https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50144749Fri, 12 Aug 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerFuzzy, spread out, asteroid images due to atmospheric and or equipment produced distortions can cause important objects to slip through an asteroid hunter's discovery images undetected. A careful monitoring of the temperature at a number of different...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,mars,nasa,seeing,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/193e-205-toy-asteroid--50144706https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50144706Tue, 09 Aug 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn asteroid small enough to fit under a basketball hoop makes frequent approaches to Earth, our Moon, and Mars121asteroid,astronomy,earth,esa,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/704-mini-moons-490--50144467https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50144467Fri, 05 Aug 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThere are likely to be hundreds smaller than softball sized and perhaps several dozen football to beachball sized, natural Earth mini moons, which are so small and fast moving that they are able to slip through asteroid hunters images without being...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,minimoon,mining,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/192e-204-birthday-asteroid--50144284https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50144284Tue, 02 Aug 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn asteroid hunter wishes for a birthday comet but instead the Universe gave her an asteroid.121asteroid,astronomy,birthday,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/703-martian-water-489--50144030https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50144030Sat, 30 Jul 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerExciting new research indicates that there could be a lake of liquid water beneath the south Martian polar cap. Further research will be required to determine if this briny pool could be the home of martian creatures.121alien,astronomy,earth,life,mars,nasa,space,telescope,waterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/191e-203-big-rock--50143728https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50143728Tue, 26 Jul 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA rare very large Earth approaching object is discovered in an unusual place in the sky.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/702-20-years-488--50143385https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50143385Fri, 22 Jul 2022 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt has been 20 years since the world woke up to the news that a half mile diameter asteroid, 1997 XF11, discovered by Space Watch on Kitt Peak, had a slight chance of impacting the Earth in 2028. The NASA and JPL's Center for Near Earth Object Studies...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/190e-202-martian-purity--50143329https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50143329Tue, 19 Jul 2022 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerHumans must be very careful not to introduce any of Earth's organisms into the Martian environment.]121astronomy,earth,life,mars,nasa,space,waterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/701-touching-the-sun-487--50143240https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50143240Fri, 15 Jul 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerImagine a spacecraft traveling at a speed that would take it from New York to Tokyo in less than a minute, a mere 4 million miles from the surface of our Sun, where it would be exposed to about 500 times the solar radiation we receive here on Earth....121astronomy,nasa,parker,space,sunfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/189e-201-frequent-visitor--50143189https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50143189Tue, 12 Jul 2022 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerA small asteroid about the size of a U-Haul moving truck makes frequent visits to our part of the solar system.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,mars,nasa,space,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/700-martian-storms-486--50094218https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50094218Fri, 08 Jul 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn a few weeks ,as Earth and Mars moved closer together, a dust storm engulfed most of the red planet making it impossible to see its surface features.121astronomy,colonists,duststorms,earth,mars,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/188e-200-comet-showers--50094055https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50094055Tue, 05 Jul 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt is possible that showers of comets changed the course of life on Earth.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,life,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/699-last-one-486--50093541https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50093541Fri, 01 Jul 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA huge Earth approaching asteroid is discovered right before the 2018 monsoon rains settled into the American Southwest. This weather imposed break from observing provides the opportunity for asteroid hunters to make major equipment upgrades and...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,monsoon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/187e-199-space-boomerang--50087128https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50087128Tue, 28 Jun 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA space boomerang meets its fate in a collision with the Earth about 60 miles off of the coast of Sri Lanka producing a bright, but harmless light show in the noon sky.121asteroid,astronomy,booster,esa,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/698-aliens-484--50086450https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50086450Fri, 24 Jun 2022 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerMost Astronomers find it hard to believe that given perhaps a trillion planets in the Milky Way alone that our Earth is the only one which hosts living organisms. It is both exciting and terrifying to realize we have no concept of what living forms...121aliens,astronomy,earth,life,milkyway,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/186e-198-asteroid-water-wagons--49616085https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49616085Tue, 21 Jun 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerOur Moon is the nearest and most likely place for humans to colonize in the near future. It has a hostile environment where air and liquid water as we know them on Earth are not to be found. In the past astronomers hypothesized that comets are the...121astronauts,astronomy,colonists,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/697-double-trouble-697--49616065https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49616065Fri, 17 Jun 2022 07:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid hunters have discovered a strange asteroid pair. How they came to be together and what humans would do if such a large double trouble object is heading for us remains a mystery.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/185e-197-rik-s-2-homers--49616038https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49616038Tue, 14 Jun 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring his last official observing run before retiring, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate, Rik Hill knocked two out of the park. On successive nights he discovered two new potentially hazardous asteroids 2015 TD323 and 2015 TK238. Not to worry, neither...121asteroids,astronomy,earth,fireballs,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/696-botswana-fragment-482--49616007https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49616007Fri, 10 Jun 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn object is tracked in outer space, seen to explode in our atmosphere, and had a fragment of it discovered on the ground. Its analysis will help humans to prepare for and defend against a much larger object with our number on it.121asteroid,astronomy,botswana,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/184e-196-dark-bright-and-beautiful--49615954https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49615954Tue, 07 Jun 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Great Galaxy in Andromeda or M31 as it is also known is one of the furtherest objects that can be seen with the unaided human eye. It is about two and a half million light years away. More than a thousand years ago the a Persian astronomer named...121astronomy,cosmiccampground,earth,nasa,saturn,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/695-a-large-visitor-480--49615758https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49615758Fri, 03 Jun 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerStatistically, asteroid hunters are thought to have discovered 90% of our potentially dangerous celestial neighbors greater than 1 KM in diameter. Thus my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard was surprised to discover an unknown very large...121asteroid,astronomy,danger,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/183e-195-flat-earth-society-reincarnation--49615720https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49615720Tue, 31 May 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn spite of the shape of the Earth's shadow on the Moon, sailing ships disappearing below the horizon, satellite photographs, orbiting objects, and a mountain of other information about the size and shape of the Earth there are still people who belong...121climatedeniers,earth,flatearth,moon,nasafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/694-comet-catalina-479--49615706https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49615706Fri, 27 May 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerComet C/2018 M1 (Catalina) is eternal in the sense that it will likely wander the vast space between the stars in our Milky Way Galaxy until the end of time.121astronomy,comet,milkyway,nasa,planet,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/182e-194-star-wanderer--49615667https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49615667Tue, 24 May 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerFrom the dawn of history, humans have longed to wander amongst the stars. Now we know that comets are able to make such a voyage giving us paths to follow.NASA scientists have suggested that the first interstellar robotic spacecraft could be propelled...121astronomy,comet,earth,exoplanet,interstellar,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/693-comet-leonard-iii-478--49615623https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49615623Fri, 20 May 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard knew he had bagged his third comet when he spotted an unknown fuzzy object with a broad tail moving through the constellation of Pisces. Eventually when it looses its volatile materials Comet Leonard will...121asteroid,comet,earth,nasa,pisces,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/181e-193-survivor--49615591https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49615591Tue, 17 May 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThirty six hours before my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Rik Hill discovered it, a space rock about size of a Toyota Prius passed about 14,000 miles above the Earth's surface. When Rik first spotted it this small asteroid was about a million miles from...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,mars,nasa,space,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/692-lonely-fragment-475--49517917https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49517917Fri, 13 May 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA 2000 foot diameter space rock has stories to tell about violent events long ago. Asteroid hunters are eager to track this huge collision fragment and look for members of its family as it passes near Earth in 2026.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/180e-192-wise-alive--49517822https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49517822Tue, 10 May 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen the NASA WISE spacecraft ran out of frozen hydrogen, its detectors warmed up, and it was no longer able to conduct its primary mission. It was placed in a hibernation mode and left to orbit the Earth in silence. A couple of years ago NASA...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/691-earth-venus-shuttle-474--49202288https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49202288Fri, 06 May 2022 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA 100 foot diameter asteroid is spotted on one of its regular trips between the orbits of Venus and Earth. Its ultimate fate is to collide with one of these planets producing a spectacular light show.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,fireball,impact,meteor,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/179e-191-two-odd-fellows--49202800https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49202800Sun, 01 May 2022 15:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerTwo quite different Earth approaching asteroids were discovered in a clear hole in the sky between storms.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/690-peek-a-boo-asteroid-468--48511885https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48511885Fri, 29 Apr 2022 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA strange asteroid plays hide and seek with frustrated astronomers.121asteroid,astronomy,css,mystery,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/178e-190-ex-most-dangerous--48511856https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48511856Tue, 26 Apr 2022 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerFor a week or so after its discovery by the 3.5 meter Space Surveillance Telescope, 2015 PU228 was thought to be the asteroid most likely to collide with Earth in this century. Calculations based on limited data indicated that this asteroid had a one...121asteroid,astronomy,crater,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/689-botswana-bound-471--48511801https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48511801Fri, 22 Apr 2022 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerA small space rock with a diameter less than the height of an NBA basketball player had just crossed the orbit of our Moon on a collision course with Earth when it was spotted streaking through the constellation of Scorpius by my Catalina Sky Survey...121asteroid,astronomy,botswana,css,meteor,meteroite,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/177e-189-thats-2--48511706https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48511706Tue, 19 Apr 2022 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerGennadii Borisov has done it again. In a stretch of less than six weeks this talented observer and telescope maker discovered two interesting Earth approaching objects. In this age of big science it is gratifying to see that an individual with...121amateur,asteroid,astronomy,crimea,discovery,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/688-martian-asteroid-hunters-470--48511682https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48511682Fri, 15 Apr 2022 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe life of an asteroid hunter on Mars will be interesting and exciting. The double planet, our Earth and Moon, in the Martian night sky will be an unforgettable sight and well worth the trip.121asteroid,astronomy,mars,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/176e-188-deep-listen--48511648https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48511648Tue, 12 Apr 2022 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThere is a mind blowing potential for life in the Universe.  Humanity's ignorance of any life forms beyond Earth has prompted the Breakthrough Prize Foundation at the Royal Society in London to create a program to award 100 million dollars in grants...121alien,astronomy,breakthrough,life,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/687-returnee-465--48509456https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48509456Fri, 08 Apr 2022 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerAfter being lost for ten years, the asteroid 2010 WC9 was re-discovered about a week before it came very close to Earth.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/175e-187-ganymede-s-layers--48509438https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48509438Mon, 04 Apr 2022 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerYou can spot Ganymede orbiting the planet Jupiter with any backyard telescope. It is the largest of the four bright moons of Jupiter discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610.  In your telescope Ganymede will be the third farthest moon from Jupiter.  This...121alien,astronomy,earth,ganymede,jupiter,life,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/686-big-atira-464--48509356https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48509356Fri, 01 Apr 2022 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe recent discovery of an asteroid, whose orbit lies completely within that of the Earth, reminds asteroid hunters to continue to search near the Sun so that a large dangerous object does not sneak up undetected on the residents of planet Earth.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/174e-186-breaks-happen--48509275https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48509275Tue, 29 Mar 2022 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerHunting asteroids by poking around in clear holes between cloud layers can be very tiresome, however, sometimes it has its rewards.  A break in the monsoon weather pattern over southern Arizona allowed my Catalina Sky Survey Teammate, Richard...121asteroid,astronomy,collision,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/685-exiled-asteroid-463--48509090https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48509090Fri, 25 Mar 2022 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn asteroid is exiled to the outer regions of the solar system during Jupiter's rampaging tack away from the Sun long ago. During that process enough material was left in Jupiter's wake to form Venus, Earth, Mars, and the asteroid belt as we know them...121astronomy,collision,earth,jupiter,nasa,solarsystem,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/173e-185-so-many-possibilities--48508745https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48508745Tue, 22 Mar 2022 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe number of possible places in a galaxy for life as we know it to develop depends on the number of stars which have planets, the presence of necessary elements such as iron, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon, and the freedom from nearby supernova which...121alien,astronomy,earth,hubble,life,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/684-our-view-462--48496251https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48496251Fri, 18 Mar 2022 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerModern technology provides us with stunning views of objects in the Universe in wavelengths invisible to our eyes, however, nothing is as moving and thought provoking as looking into deep space with your very own eyes.121astronomy,earth,nasa,nightsky,observing,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/172e-183-no-worries--48496211https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48496211Tue, 15 Mar 2022 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerA number of blogs and postings on the web have been spreading the false rumor that there is an asteroid which is about to strike the Earth producing catastrophic damage. There are also recurrent false rumors that the government or governments are...121astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/683-tess-460--48496179https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48496179Fri, 11 Mar 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerTo find planets close to home NASA has launched TESS the Transiting Exoplanet Satellite which will monitor more than 200,000 nearby, stars over the entire sky to detect the tiny dips in light caused when a planet passes in front of it's star. The TESS...121alien,astronomy,earth,life,planets,space,tessfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/171e-184-most-dangerous--48496147https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48496147Tue, 08 Mar 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently the  3.5 meter Space Surveillance Telescope located at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico found an an asteroid which has been named 2015 PU228. It is currently the asteroid which is most likely to collide with planet Earth in this...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/682-falling-space-rocks-459--48496031https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48496031Fri, 04 Mar 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. Grauern the early evening of January 17, 2018 six hundred and seventy four observers in 11 States and Canada reported a fireball meteor streaking across the sky to the American Meteor Society. To find freshly fallen meteorites visit the American Meteor...121astronomy,earth,meteor,meteorites,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/170e-182-earth-life-on-mars--48484648https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48484648Tue, 01 Mar 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIf Earth had a mountain about four times higher than Mt. Everest this hypothetical mountain's summit would have the thin atmosphere, UV radiation from the Sun, and the temperature extremes approaching the hostile environment to be found on the planet...121alien,astronomy,earth,life,mars,mountains,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/681-17-000-to-go-455--48484548https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48484548Fri, 25 Feb 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerSo far asteroid hunters have discovered about 8,000 of the 25,000, large, potentially hazardous asteroids, suspected to exist, leaving 17,000 more to be found. For this reason, NASA has designed and proposed the NEOCam spacecraft to give us the...121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,neocam,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/169e-181-beyond-moon--48484501https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48484501Tue, 22 Feb 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe relentless pull of the Earth's gravity on the Moon causes it to always point the same side towards us. The Moon's slight wobble has allowed us to catch glimpses of a small sliver of the Moon's far side. In 1968 the first humans to see the far side...121astronomy,darkside,earth,moon,nasa,space,space travel,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/680-comets-and-asteroids-454--48484428https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48484428Fri, 18 Feb 2022 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerIf you set your mind to it, you can find and hold a sample of an asteroid, called a meteorite, which has landed on the Earth's surface. On the other hand, watching major meteor showers will allow you to see but not touch comet dust as it enters and...121astronomy,comet,earth,meteor,meteorite,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/168e-180-an-eternal-one--48484370https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48484370Tue, 15 Feb 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerCatalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski found a faint moving point of light in the night sky.  After his discovery observations were posted on the Minor Planet Center's website it was observed by 10 other telescopes around the world and given...121astronomy,comet,earth,ison,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/679-hammer-453--48484303https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48484303Fri, 11 Feb 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen Asteroid Hunters find a relatively large asteroid on a collision course with planet Earth, the challenge is to change its path to make it miss our home planet.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/167e-179-planets-billiards-alchemy--47488114"Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things"
These are only two of the quotes attributed to Sir Isaac Newton.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47488114Tue, 08 Feb 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. Grauer"I do not know how I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy, playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself, in now and then finding a smoother pebble or prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth..."Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things"
These are only two of the quotes attributed to Sir Isaac Newton.]]>121astronomy,mathematics,nasa,newton,physics,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/678-greg-s-comet-425--47488031https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47488031Fri, 04 Feb 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerGreg's comet comes into our neighborhood once per human lifetime and spends most of it's time in the lonely space high above or far below the rest of the members of our solar system.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,esa,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/166e-178-monster-telescope--47487991https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47487991Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerImagine a monster telescope that can collect 37 million times more light than can enter your eye.  A huge telescope with this capability, planned by the European scientific community, will sit atop a 10,000 foot high mountain in the high dry desert of...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,esa,giant,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/677-30-years-of-fireballs--47487911https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47487911Fri, 28 Jan 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerFireballs are meteors which become brighter than the planet Venus and can sometimes be seen in the daytime. If you are lucky to see a fireball send in your report to the American Meteor Society and become a citizen scientist.121asteroid,astronomy,fireball,meteor,meteorite,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/165e-177-flying-peanut--47487839https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47487839Tue, 25 Jan 2022 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerFor 16 years, since its discovery at Lowell Observatory, humans knew 1999 JD6 only as a strange, spinning, moving point of light in the night sky. It orbits the Sun once every 303 days on a path that brings it relatively close to Mercury, Venus, and...121asteroid,astronomy,nasa,radio,space,strange,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/676-cloud-7-449--47486956https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47486956Fri, 21 Jan 2022 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerTo give you an idea of the asteroid traffic in our neighborhood, on a mostly cloudy night, through holes in the clouds, in a space of less than 2 hours, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski posted 7 new close approaching asteroid...121asteroid,earth,meteor,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/164e-176-weird-life--47486923https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47486923Tue, 18 Jan 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerOur everyday world is in the thin web of life that surrounds our planet. We see living organisms made possible by solar energy, water, air, and nutrients from the Earth. Maybe all living creatures are not in an environment similar to ours. When...121alien,astronomy,life,nasa,ocean,oceans,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/675-nuking-an-asteroid-447--47486897https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47486897Fri, 14 Jan 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerTonight, even though the chances are extremely slim, an asteroid hunter could find a sizable asteroid on a collision course with planet Earth. If we have decades warning, the potential impactor's arrival time could be changed by impacting the...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,nuke,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/163e-175-one-4-ukraine--47486856https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47486856Tue, 11 Jan 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerCurrently the majority of the Earth Approaching objects are found by my team, the Catalina Sky Survey or the Pan STARRs group in Hawaii. Both employ large telescopes, very expensive electronic cameras, and high powered computer systems.  However, an...121asteroid,astronomy,discovery,nasa,space,telescope,ukrainefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/674-asteroid-homestead-446--47486811https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47486811Fri, 07 Jan 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the future one can envision a space mining family boarding a descendent of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch Vehicle for a trip into low Earth orbit. A few hundred miles above the Earth's surface they would rendezvous with their asteroid mining...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,elonmusk,mining,nasa,space,spacexfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/162e-174-fascinating-europa--47486663https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47486663Tue, 04 Jan 2022 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerYou can spot Europa with almost any small telescope as a moving point of light orbiting the planet Jupiter just like Galileo Galilei did 400 years ago. Of the 4 moons which you will see Europa is the one second closest to Jupiter.  121astronomy,europa,galileo,jupiter,nasa,oceans,saltwater,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/673-christmas-comet-437--47486594https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47486594Fri, 31 Dec 2021 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn December 25, 2017, while searching for Earth approaching asteroids in the constellation of Virgo, the Universe gave my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard a Christmas present in the form of a comet which now bears his name.121asteroid,astronomy,christmas,comet,halley,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/161e-173-an-earth-like-planet--47485885https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47485885Tue, 28 Dec 2021 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerSince the dawn of our race, it is likely that humans have looked into the night sky and wondered if they are alone in the Universe on a unique planet. The NASA Kepler spacecraft has discovered more than a thousand planets orbiting distant stars. A...121alien,astronomy,earthlike,kepler,nasa,planet,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/672-meteor-whispers-427--47485846https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47485846Fri, 24 Dec 2021 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecent scientific studies have begun to shed light on the interesting mystery of how the small number of what we now call electrophonic meteors produce simultaneous light and sound. If you are lucky you could hear a meteor's dying whispers and could...121astronomy,fireball,meteor,meteroite,metroid,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/160e-172-number-1602--47485750https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47485750Tue, 21 Dec 2021 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe one thousand six hundred and second potentially hazardous asteroid was discovered by the Pan-STARRS group in Hawaii. Followup observations were made by  telescopes in Hawaii, France, Australia, Italy, Germany, and Pennsylvania. The Minor Planet...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,pan-starrs,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/671-long-winter-nights-424--47485403https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47485403Fri, 17 Dec 2021 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerLong Winter nights with good seeing, from start to finish, are those on which the asteroid hunter makes new discoveries while being treated to views of millions of stars, gas clouds, and galaxies which inspire a child like sense of wonder.121asteroid,astronomy,hunter,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/159e-171-planet-s-airglow--47473593https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47473593Tue, 14 Dec 2021 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerAt the few remaining natural night sky viewing locations on Earth the horizon has a faint glow in every direction.  Near the magnetic poles, this night glow appears to join with the relatively bright higher altitude aurora which covers larger portions...121airglow,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/670-laser-surfing-364--47473546https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47473546Fri, 10 Dec 2021 07:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen we find a planet which appears to have the chemical signs of living organisms in its atmosphere, the desire to take a close up look at it will be hard to contain. Laser propelled ultra light space probes could be sent to explore nearby worlds....121aliens,astronomy,breakthrough,breakthroughscience,nasa,nearby,planets,science,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/158e-170-encounter-with-pluto--47473494https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47473494Tue, 07 Dec 2021 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerAfter 9 years, 3 billion miles, and 18 sleeping periods NASA gave a wake up call to the New Horizons when it was 135 million miles from the Pluto system.  After more than 8 hours of waiting, NASA engineers were ecstatic to receive a message from the...121astronomy,nasa,newhorizons,pluto,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/669-seeds-356--47473454https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47473454Fri, 03 Dec 2021 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen a fleet of interstellar spaceships leaves our solar system for a planet circling a nearby star the most important of all of the riches that human explorers will carry with them will be libraries of our planet's DNA and the seeds of plants. They...121astronauts,astronomy,colonists,interstellar,nasa,seeds,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/157e-169-neighborhood-s-edge--46760768https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46760768Tue, 30 Nov 2021 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerConfronted with the deluge of new possible planets, in 2006, The International Astronomical Union voted to categorize Pluto as a Dwarf Planet and not the 9th planet in our solar system as most school children had learned. 121astronomy,nasa,pluto,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/668-dry-sands-420--46760621https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46760621Fri, 26 Nov 2021 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIntriguing features which change with the Martian seasons mimic flows of liquid water on the Earth's surface.121astronomy,earth,life,mars,nasa,sand,space,waterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/156e-168-invisible-stuff--46760558https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46760558Tue, 23 Nov 2021 16:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 1933 Fritz Zwicky suggested that the high speeds of galaxies in the relatively distant Coma Cluster are indicative of some type of invisible material which is pulling on them. In the 1970's Dr. Vera Rubin began to measure the speeds of stars in...121astronomy,dark,darkmatter,nasa,rubin,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/667-et-s-cigar-419--46760492https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46760492Fri, 19 Nov 2021 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe first alien object to observed visiting our solar system arrives from truly deep space and leaves us with the mystery of what it is and how it got that way.121alien,asteroid,interstellar,nasa,space,telescope,visitorfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/155e-167-night-sky-friendly--46760313https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46760313Tue, 16 Nov 2021 16:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerBeing night sky friendly means that you only use outdoor lighting fixtures which direct light onto the ground where humans need it and not up into the sky where it obscures the natural wonders of the Universe. Currently more than 2/3 of the US...121astronomy,dark,nightsky,planets,space,stargazing,stars,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/666-red-dwarf-planets-417--46760234https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46760234Fri, 12 Nov 2021 16:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerEarth like planets are being discovered circling the most common type of star in our neighborhood of the Milky Way galaxy.121alien,dwarf,earth,life,nasa,planets,red,space,stars,sunfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/154e-166-asteroid-diamonds--46760125https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46760125Tue, 09 Nov 2021 16:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerDid you know that asteroids can bring diamonds to Earth and that asteroids sometimes create diamonds when they collide with our planet?121diamonds,impact,nasa,siberia,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/665-odd-ball-416--46759819https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46759819Fri, 05 Nov 2021 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerA small asteroid soars into the lonely space high above and below the plane of our solar system.121asteroid,astronomy,nasa,solarsystem,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/153e-165-one-two-punch--46759733https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46759733Tue, 02 Nov 2021 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerAbout 35 million years ago the Earth was impacted by two large asteroids creating the more than 50 mile diameter Popigai [pop a gay i] Crater in Russia and a similar crater in Chesapeake Bay in the USA.  Analysis of fragments indicate that the...121asteroid,astronomy,climate,crater,impact,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/664-extraterrestrial-whales-410--46759581https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46759581Fri, 29 Oct 2021 15:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerPerhaps the reason that we have not detected alien civilizations on distant worlds is because they exist in oceans covered by miles of radiation absorbing ice and rocks.121alien,astronomy,et,europa,nasa,ocean,space,waterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/152e-164-big-threat-or-not--46759433  ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46759433Tue, 26 Oct 2021 15:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn February 2013 a space rock about 59 feet in diameter entered the Earth's atmosphere over Chelyabinsk, Russia making a fire ball 30 times brighter than our Sun. It came without warning and nearly 1,500 people were injured primarily by flying glass...  ]]>121asteroid,chelyabinsk,earth,impact,meteor,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/663-alien-rock-409--46759331https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46759331Fri, 22 Oct 2021 15:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerA rock from another solar system is likely to have streaked by Earth before heading back into interstellar space.121asteroid,nasa,space,spacerock,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/151e-163-space-junk--46759288https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46759288Tue, 19 Oct 2021 15:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerThere are more than 20,000 pieces of space junk larger than 4 inches in diameter and millions of tiny ones in orbit around the Earth.  At orbital speed a flake of paint carries as much energy as a 550 pound object traveling at 60 miles per hour....121astronauts,astronomy,esa,gammarays,nasa,space,spacejunkfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/662-earth-s-pet-rock-408--46759102https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46759102Fri, 15 Oct 2021 15:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn it's gravitational leash, Earth's pet space rock, 2016 HO3, accompanies us at a distance of between 38 and 100 times the Moon's distance from Earth as we both travel about the Sun.121asteroid,astronauts,earth,moon,nasa,solarsystem,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/150e-162-icarus-pays-a-visit--46288409https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46288409Tue, 12 Oct 2021 15:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerFor 43 years after its discovery in 1949, the Earth approaching asteroid Icarus, was known as the object which passes closest to our Sun. It is named for a boy in Greek mythology whose wings of feathers and wax melted when he ignored his father's...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,icarus,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/661-roving-venus-400--46288329https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46288329Fri, 08 Oct 2021 15:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerTo survive on Venus where the temperature is 864F and the surface air pressure is 90 times that of Earth, NASA and JPL engineers are exploring the concept of avoiding the use of modern temperature sensitive electronics by creating a fully mechanical...121astronomy,earth,nasa,rover,space,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/149e-161-half-a-world-away--46287578https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46287578Tue, 05 Oct 2021 15:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerUsing the long arm of the internet, astronomers in Russia are observing with a telescope located near Mayhill, New Mexico to discover solar system objects. The New Mexico Skies Observatory, near the village of Mayhill, is located 7,300 feet above sea...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,newmexico,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/660-double-comet-403--46287505https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46287505Fri, 01 Oct 2021 15:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhat at first appeared to be an asteroid turned out to be a double comet.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/148e-160-alma-spots-juno--46286170https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46286170Tue, 28 Sep 2021 15:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerJuno was found by German astronomer Karl L. Harding in 1804 who noticed that to the human eye it appeared to be a star like moving point of light in the night sky.  The light that Juno reflects suggests that it could be the source of stony meteorites...121alma,astronomy,chile,juno,radio,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/659-martian-debris-382--46286150https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46286150Fri, 24 Sep 2021 15:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerMartian Trojan asteroids have stable orbits around the Sun, leading and trailing the red planet by 60 degrees, where the Sun's and Mars's gravity are balanced. The impact more than 4 billion years or so ago which blasted loose the Trojan asteroids and...121astronomy,earth,mars,nasa,space,telescopes,trojansfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/147e-159-good-news--46286128https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46286128Tue, 21 Sep 2021 15:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls discovered an approaching asteroid about the same size as the one whose high altitude disintegration injured nearly 1500 people in Chelyabinsk Russia in February of 2013.  Fortunately...121asteroid,astronomy,chelyabinsk,earth,impactor,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/658-fireball-ii-418--46286103https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46286103Fri, 17 Sep 2021 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently there were four fireball meteors, brighter than the planet Venus, which exploded over Germany, France, Ohio, and Arizona within the space of only 10 hours. There are likely to be on the order of 1,000 fireball events over the Earth every day.121asteroid,astronomy,meteor,meteoriod,meteroite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/146e-158-know-a-star--46286068https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46286068Tue, 14 Sep 2021 15:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerHow would you like to know more about a particular star than anyone else on Earth? 121astronomy,earth,nasa,space,starsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/657-plant-companionship-407--46286002https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46286002Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn Earth, human life is enabled by plants which provide us with calories, vitamins, fuel, medicines, and oxygen to breathe. In addition, recent scientific studies indicate that plant cultivation reduces anxiety and depression and has a positive...121astronomy,earth,mars,nasa,plants,space,spacestationfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/145e-157-kissing-frogs--46006566https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46006566Tue, 07 Sep 2021 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn asteroid hunter literally has to sort through millions of objects to find an unknown Earth approaching asteroid.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/656-moons-of-florence-399--46006542https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46006542Fri, 03 Sep 2021 16:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe largest asteroid to come near the Earth in 100 years has two moons.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/144e-156-close-ones--46006409https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46006409Tue, 31 Aug 2021 16:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the space of less than ten nights, my Catalina Sky Survey teammates discovered 8 new Earth approaching objects. One of them can pass closer to us than our communication satellites.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/655-finding-space-rocks-391--46006335https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46006335Fri, 27 Aug 2021 16:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerFinding a meteorite that has traveled billions of miles through space to reach it's present location is exciting. It might even be worth real money.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,meteor,meteroid,meterorite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/143e-155-full-moon--46006066https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46006066Tue, 24 Aug 2021 16:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerFor some people the full Moon is for howling. For asteroid hunters it is time to regroup and make improvements in the process of finding Earth approaching objects.121asteroid,astronomy,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/654-night-vision-401--46006040https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46006040Fri, 20 Aug 2021 16:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerExperience the wonders of the Universe first hand using your night vision.121astronomy,cosmiccampground,nasa,nightvision,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/142e-154-100-years-of-data--46006010
Photo: By Harvard College Observatory - Harvard College Observatory, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5280391]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46006010Tue, 17 Aug 2021 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerSoon it will be possible to study changes in the Universe which have occurred over the past 100 years. Photo: By Harvard College Observatory - Harvard College Observatory, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5280391
Photo: By Harvard College Observatory - Harvard College Observatory, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5280391]]>121astronomy,harvard,nasa,photographic,plate,quasars,space,starsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/653-biggest-ear-300--46005963https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46005963Fri, 13 Aug 2021 16:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerChina has built and is operating the world's largest Radio telescope.121aliens,astronomy,china,nasa,pulsars,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/141e-153-alien-invaders--46005913https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46005913Tue, 10 Aug 2021 16:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe most likely alien invaders are viruses or other bits of living materials that humans have exported from or imported to Earth's biosphere. Currently there are international efforts, like the outer space treaty and the Committee on Space Research,...121aliens,astronomy,mars,nasa,space,virusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/652-our-number-314--45674645https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45674645Fri, 06 Aug 2021 16:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard discovered, 2016 WJ1, a relatively large asteroid which can come close but will not hit the Earth. Once in every million years or so an asteroid impact by an object of this size could cause global climate...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/140e-152-big-and-bad--45662766https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45662766Tue, 03 Aug 2021 16:00:17 +0000Albert D. Grauern the space of a couple of days the Catalina Sky Survey found 3 potentially dangerous asteroids.121asteroid,astronomy,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/651-spotting-meteors-397--45662748https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45662748Fri, 30 Jul 2021 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. Grauer121astronomy,meteor,meteroite,nasa,space,telescope,utahfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/139e-151-a-climate-changer--45662509https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45662509Tue, 27 Jul 2021 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerLarge asteroids which impact the Earth can cause global change.121asteroid,astronomy,climate,climatechange,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/650-jupiter-396--45662468https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45662468Fri, 23 Jul 2021 16:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerJupiter has been observed throughout human history and is so bright that you can even spot it under the artificial light dome of one of our cities. Even so it is less than 40 years ago that we were first able to view Jupiter in detail as the Voyagers...121astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,nasa,space,telescope,voyagerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/138e-150-how-big-it-is--45389717https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45389717Tue, 20 Jul 2021 16:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroids are moving points of light in the night sky, which shine by reflected Sun light. The asteroid hunting community determines a new object's orbit around the Sun by continuing to measure its changing position in the sky. The next time you hear...121asteroid,earth,landolt,nasa,size,standard,star,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/649-30-days-of-traffic--45389691https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45389691Fri, 16 Jul 2021 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring a recent 30 day period asteroid hunters spotted 88 small space rocks passing through our neighborhood. Their diameters ranged from the length of a Uhaul Van to one that would occupy the majority of a city block. None of them pose a threat to...121asteroid,earth,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/137e-149-near-venus-to-past-jupiter--45389653https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45389653Tue, 13 Jul 2021 16:00:19 +0000Albert D. GrauerAbout a month before my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Rik Hill spotted it, a 5 football field diameter asteroid had been almost as near to the Sun as the planet Venus. His discovery images showed it about to cross the Earth's orbit at a speed of 21...121asteroid,earth,mars,nasa,space,sun,telescope,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/648-smoky-nights--45389631https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45389631Fri, 09 Jul 2021 16:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerUntil recently smoky nights at the observatory were rare. Now they have become more common place as wild fires continue to devastate portions of the western United States. The consequences of expanded fire prone areas goes far beyond missing a few...121asteroids,astronomy,change,climate,earth,nasa,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/136e-148-radio-eyes--45268661https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45268661Tue, 06 Jul 2021 16:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerIf you woke up tomorrow morning with radio eyes your surroundings would look very different. Invisible to us, are the radio waves occupying a vast region of other wavelengths.These invisible radio waves are produced by a number of very interesting...121asteroids,astronomy,nasa,planets,radio,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/647-vigilance--45268625https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45268625Fri, 02 Jul 2021 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerA break in the weather provides the opportunity to discover an Earth approaching object.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,meteor,meteroite,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/135e-147-high-traffic-area--45268605https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45268605Tue, 29 Jun 2021 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerFrancesco Manca of the Sormano Astronomical Observatory is doing some of the important work of keeping track of the asteroids which can make close approaches to our Earth, our Moon, and other objects in space. He has compiled the fact that the...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impactor,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/646-young-martian-volcanoes--45268573https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45268573Fri, 25 Jun 2021 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerRelatively recent volcanic activity observed on Mars suggests that where subsurface martian magma and frozen water meet is where microbial life could flourish in the current era.121astronomy,life,mars,microbe,nasa,space,volcanofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/134e-146-stuff-of-life--45092522https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45092522Tue, 22 Jun 2021 16:00:21 +0000Albert D. GrauerEvidence from comets and meteorites has brought many scientists to believe that the basic building blocks of life were brought to Earth by small bodies which impacted our home planet early in its history. When and where did the substances,...121aliens,alma,astronomy,comets,earth,esa,life,nasa,nsf,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/645-shrinking-stratosphere--45092328https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45092328Fri, 18 Jun 2021 16:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerAs a result of human caused increases in green house gases the troposphere is expanding and the stratosphere is shrinking. Between 1980 and 2018 the stratosphere has become a quarter of a mile thinner and is projected to contract in total by nearly a...121climate,climatechange,earth,nasa,space,stratospherefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/133e-145-near-earth-and-moon--45092264https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45092264Tue, 15 Jun 2021 16:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate, Rose Matheny discovered a tiny asteroid that passed 115,000 miles from Earth and 104,000 miles from our Moon. Rose's discovery demonstrates the fact that the asteroid hunting community is beginning to have the...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,fireball,meteor,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/644-tracking-meteoriods--45092247https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45092247Fri, 11 Jun 2021 16:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerA team of astronomers find that as many as 14 comets which came to less than 4 times the Moon's distance from us as long as 4,000 years ago are detectable as meteor showers in the present era. These results make us aware of potentially hazardous...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/132e-144-one-of-a-million--44859827https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44859827Tue, 08 Jun 2021 16:00:19 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently I was observing with the NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon when the computer identified a faint fast moving object in the night sky. Not being sure it was real I scheduled followup observations. About an hour...121asteroids,earth,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/643-space-vehicles--44859781https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44859781Fri, 04 Jun 2021 16:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerNew Rocket engines will revolutionize space travel to the Moon and Mars.121astronauts,astronomy,mars,moon,nasa,space,spacex,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/131e-143-busy-little-one--44859671https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44859671Tue, 01 Jun 2021 16:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Rik Hill discovered an asteroid about the size of a luxury sedan which cruises about the inner solar system.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,mars,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/642-vesta-fragment--44859543https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44859543Fri, 28 May 2021 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn impacting object hit the asteroid Vesta making a 10 mile diameter crater and in the process blasted loose fragments which have been orbiting the Sun for 22 million years or so. In June of 2018 my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski...121africia,astronomy,botswana,meteroite,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/130e-142-planetary-defense--44597067https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44597067Tue, 25 May 2021 16:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently people from all over the world met in Italy to discuss ways that humans can prepare for the unlikely, but not impossible, situation that an object is on an impact trajectory with planet Earth. They were were presented with a hypothetical...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,meteorite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/641-backyard-astronomy--44597007https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44597007Fri, 21 May 2021 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn March and April every year amateur astronomers, around the world, in Messier Marathons, attempt to view all of 110 objects in the Messier catalogue in a single night. In a more leisurely approach you can visit a dark sky location like the Cosmic...121astronomy,deepspace,earth,messier,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/129e-141-sailing-the-cosmos--44596973https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44596973Tue, 18 May 2021 16:00:19 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe first human use of the wind to power boats most likely occurred in about 3,000 BC. This was a major improvement in travel over walking and animal drawn carts. Three or four hundred years from now humans may send a robotic space probe to a nearby...121alien,astronomy,earth,nasa,planetarysociety,rocket,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/640-rocks-or-rockets--44596930https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44596930Fri, 14 May 2021 16:00:20 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid hunters have discovered a curious object. It appears likely to be either a rock ejected from the Moon or a piece of space junk from a human designed mission to the Moon. Observations which reveal how this tiny object is effected by Sun...121apollo10,astronomy,lunar,meteorite,moon,nasa,snoopy,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/128e-140-a-weird-orbit--44479064in the same plane as the planets. There is a lot of empty space in the solar system,
however, we see asteroids with craters on them so we know collisions have occurred.
It seems likely that an asteroid whose path is highly inclined to the plane of the
solar system was involved in a collision with another object causing a radical change
in its orbit.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44479064Tue, 11 May 2021 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe vast majority of asteroids orbiting the Sun do so on a path that is pretty much in the same plane as the planets. There is a lot of empty space in the solar system, however, we see asteroids with craters on them so we know collisions have...in the same plane as the planets. There is a lot of empty space in the solar system,
however, we see asteroids with craters on them so we know collisions have occurred.
It seems likely that an asteroid whose path is highly inclined to the plane of the
solar system was involved in a collision with another object causing a radical change
in its orbit.]]>121asteroid,dangerous,earth,impact,meteor,meteroite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/639-earth-approachers--44479010https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44479010Fri, 07 May 2021 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring a recent 60 day period asteroid hunters discovered 29 space rocks as they passed closer to us than the Moon. These small asteroids averaged 30 feet in diameter and ranged in size from one that could fit under a basketball hoop to one the would...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,meteor,meteroite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/127e-139-next-step-to-mars--44295457such a voyage is but a small step of about 30 Earth diameters into the vastness of space.
NASA is proposing the next step on the path to Mars to be a mission to an asteroid or a
boulder taken from the surface of an asteroid.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44295457Tue, 04 May 2021 15:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerA trip to our Moon is one of the great human adventures of all time. However, such a voyage is but a small step of about 30 Earth diameters into the vastness of space. NASA is proposing the next step on the path to Mars to be a mission to an...such a voyage is but a small step of about 30 Earth diameters into the vastness of space.
NASA is proposing the next step on the path to Mars to be a mission to an asteroid or a
boulder taken from the surface of an asteroid.]]>121asteroid,astronomy,mars,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/638-methane--44295284https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44295284Fri, 30 Apr 2021 15:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerHow ET could know there is life on Earth.121alien,earth,et,extraterrestrial,jamesweb,life,nasa,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/126e-138-an-inter-planetary-visitor--44294897https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44294897Tue, 27 Apr 2021 15:00:18 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently an inter-planetary visitor made a close approach to planet Earth. It is about the same size as the object which entered our atmosphere in February of 2013 injuring nearly 1500 people in Chelyabinsk, Russia. It can come to within 20,000...121asteroid,astronomy,chelyabinsk,earth,mars,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/637-martian-dust--44294043https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44294043Fri, 23 Apr 2021 15:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerAfter sunset in the spring and before sunrise in the fall, at a natural night sky location like the Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary in New Mexico, you will see a triangle of faint glow of light that extends from its broad base on...121astronomy,dust,fall,mars,nasa,space,spring,zodiacalfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/125e-137-bad-seeing--44245231https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44245231Tue, 20 Apr 2021 15:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerLooking at the Universe from the Earth's surface is a bit like a scuba diver viewing our world from the bottom of a swimming pool. Don't get me wrong. I love our atmosphere. It gives us air to breath, keeps our body's fluids liquid, protects us from...121astronomy,earth,nasa,seeing,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/636-90-inch--44244026https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44244026Fri, 16 Apr 2021 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn Kitt Peak in Arizona, the Steward Observatory's Bok telescope's 90 inch light collecting mirror enables the discovery, study, and tracking of space rocks 3 or 4 times fainter then possible with any of our other telescopes. Over all our team, the...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/124e-136-the-oceans-of-ganymede--43922333https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43922333Fri, 16 Apr 2021 15:00:18 +0000Albert D. GrauerGanymede was discovered by Galileo Galilei using his new telescope in 1610. He observed it to be a faint point of light orbiting the planet Jupiter. This discovery along with 3 of Jupiter's moons was the first instance of objects being observed to...121astronomy,galileo,ganymede,jupiter,life,nasa,oceans,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/635-exploring-mars--43922264https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43922264Fri, 09 Apr 2021 15:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerWe are lucky to be alive in an age when anyone with an internet connection can participate in the exploration of Mars. Your unique brain-eye combination may very well enable you to notice a previously unknown meteorite on the surface of Mars. Give...121alien,astronomy,earth,life,mars,microbial,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/123e-135-future-impact-possibilities--43922181Maybe against the most incredible odds a small asteroid has our number on it.
Maybe we will find it tonight.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43922181Tue, 06 Apr 2021 15:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently, three asteroids were discovered which have very slight probabilities of impact with planet Earth between 2065 and 2117. My team, the Catalina Sky Survey found two of them and the Pan-STARRS group in Hawaii found the other one. These three...Maybe against the most incredible odds a small asteroid has our number on it.
Maybe we will find it tonight.]]>121asteroid,astronomy,earth,esa,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/634-meteor-goes-splat--43919637https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43919637Fri, 02 Apr 2021 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn 28 February 2021 at 9:54PM a large slow moving fireball meteor was observed over England, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. The Wichcombe meteorite which this meteor produced is particularly valuable since it was found less than 12 hours after...121asteroid,astronomy,camera,earth,fireball,meteor,meteroite,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/122e-134-recycling-spacecraft--43829703https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43829703Tue, 30 Mar 2021 15:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the early days of space exploration when a flight component failed the mission was over. In recent history, there have been a few times when astronauts have repaired satellites and a number of instances of Earth bound engineers reprogramming...121astronomy,earth,hubble,nasa,space,spacecraftfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/633-dress-rehearsal--43829517https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43829517Fri, 26 Mar 2021 15:00:21 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe situation that asteroid hunters both train for and dread is the discovery of a large space rock on a collision course with planet Earth. Recently we got a chance to practice on a small harmless space rock named 2020 XK1 that eventually zipped past...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,fireball,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/121e-133-2-close-approaches--43829002https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43829002Tue, 23 Mar 2021 15:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerSlightly more than a day apart, my NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey teammates Richard Kowalski and Carson Fuls found two small asteroids. Both of them can travel to much closer than the distance to our Moon from planet Earth. It is possible that...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/632-couch-potato--43777255https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43777255Fri, 19 Mar 2021 15:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski is the first person in our group and perhaps the first person in the world to discover a potentially hazardous asteroid while sitting on his living room couch.121asteroid,astronomy,laptop,nasa,remote,space,technology,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/120e-132-kowalski-s-forever-comet--43777218https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43777218Tue, 16 Mar 2021 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski has an instinct for discovering interesting objects. Recently he spotted a fuzzy looking moving faint light in the night sky. It was then observed by telescopes in Italy, New Mexico, and Texas and...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,discovery,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/631-greg-s-comet--43675753https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43675753Fri, 12 Mar 2021 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Survey Teammate Greg Leonard was asteroid hunting with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when he spotted a fuzzy object with a short tail moving through the constellation Canes Venatici. That Greg spotted his comet discovery...121astronomy,bright,brightcomet,comet,discovery,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/119e-131-deafening-silence--43675694My money is on the concept that there are many planets which host living organisms. Recent discoveries indicate that there may be as many as 40 billion habitable planets in the Milky way alone. On some of them civilizations like are ours are likely to be emerging. The physics of the Universe requires large allocations of energy and resources to become spacefaring. Humans have so far dabbled in a few baby steps beyond our planet and made some attempts to listen for other beings. What else is out there remains to be discovered.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43675694Tue, 09 Mar 2021 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerMore than 50 years of searching for signals from other civilizations in the Universe has produced a deafening silence. There is no evidence that aliens have visited the Earth or exist anywhere. There are many hints that life might exist in other...My money is on the concept that there are many planets which host living organisms. Recent discoveries indicate that there may be as many as 40 billion habitable planets in the Milky way alone. On some of them civilizations like are ours are likely to be emerging. The physics of the Universe requires large allocations of energy and resources to become spacefaring. Humans have so far dabbled in a few baby steps beyond our planet and made some attempts to listen for other beings. What else is out there remains to be discovered.]]>121alienlife,aliens,astronomy,extraterrestrial,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/630-largest-asteroid--43608819https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43608819Fri, 05 Mar 2021 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate David Rankin was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Hercules when he spotted a fast moving point of light streaking through the night sky 159 million miles from Earth. David's discovery is only one of three Earth...121asteroid,astronomy,climatechange,earth,impact,moon,nasa,space,sunfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/118e-130-things-that-dim-in-the-night--43466974https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43466974Tue, 02 Mar 2021 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerObjects in the Universe that brighten rapidly grab our attention. One of the most spectacular examples is Kepler's supernova. In 1604 this star was bright enough to be seen with the naked eye in the daytime for over three weeks. Another occurred in...121astronomy,comet,nasa,solarsystem,space,supernova,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/629-loneliest-asteroid--43466919https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43466919Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate David Rankin was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Canes Venatici with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, AZ when he found our teams loneliest asteroid of 2020. The possibility of a tough lonely unknown...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/117e-129-a-3-city-block-sized-asteroid--43308819https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43308819Tue, 23 Feb 2021 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammates Carson Fuls and Jess Johnson discovered an asteroid which comes close enough and is large enough be be classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid. It was subsequently observed by telescopes in New...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impactor,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/628-close-approaches--43308774https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43308774Fri, 19 Feb 2021 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2020 my team the Catalina Sky Survey discovered 171 asteroids which can occasionally come closer to us than our Moon. In fact 21 of them, averaging 25 feet in diameter can come close enough to our home planet to pass through the cloud of...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,fireball,impactor,meteor,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/116e-128-buzzed-by-an-asteroid--43085501https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43085501Tue, 16 Feb 2021 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammates Carson Fuls and Jess Johnson discovered a rapidly moving point of light in the sky. It was subsequently observed by telescopes in Italy, Arizona, New Zealand, and Australia. Twenty six hours before humans...121asteroid,astronomy,esa,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/627-toughest-asteroids--43085459https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43085459Fri, 12 Feb 2021 16:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2020, my team the Catalina Sky Survey discovered 14 extremely tough asteroids which regularly travel closer to the Sun than the planet Mercury. They are likely to contain at least as much iron, nickel, platinum, gold, and other valuable metals as...121asteroidmining,astronomy,colonists,gold,nasa,platinum,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/115e-127-tied-for-third--43085422https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43085422Tue, 09 Feb 2021 16:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe appearance of a naked eye comet is one of natures most impressive displays. Humans have regarded these suddenly appearing objects as everything from a sign of an upcoming disaster, to the bringers of water and organic materials to Earth. Not all...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/626-lunar-impactors--43085376https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43085376Fri, 05 Feb 2021 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Teddy Pruyne was observing in the constellation of Pisces with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, AZ when he discovered a small space rock on a path which takes it near the moon on its 2.3 year long orbit...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,moon,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/114e-126-ready-yourself-for-alien-life--43085342https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43085342Tue, 02 Feb 2021 16:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerCarl Sagan said that "The Universe is a pretty big place. If it's just us, seems like an awful waste of space". It is hard to look into the sky on a clear dark night and not share this feeling.121aliens,astrobiology,astronomy,earth,nasa,radio,sagan,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/625-record-year--42872666https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42872666Fri, 29 Jan 2021 16:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2020 the asteroid hunting community discovered 2,946 Earth approaching space rocks orbiting our Sun. My team, the Catalina Sky Survey, led the pack with 1,542 to our credit. Fortunately we have yet to find an asteroid large enough to do damage...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/113e-125-nasa-radar-finds-asteroid-moon--42872618https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42872618Tue, 26 Jan 2021 16:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid 2004 BL86 was discovered more than 10 years ago by the LINEAR program in New Mexico.Until recently, we knew asteroid 2004 BL86 only as a faint moving point of light in the night sky. Early in 2015 it came close to planet Earth. RADAR images...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,moon,nasa,radar,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/624-in-coming--42872585https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42872585Fri, 22 Jan 2021 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard was asteroid hunting with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when he spotted a moving point of light streaking at 6.9 mi/sec through the constellation of Canis Minor. Greg's discovery...121apophis,asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/112e-124-great-shefford-observatory--42267576https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42267576Tue, 19 Jan 2021 07:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn the first night an Earth approaching asteroid candidate is discovered, one is lucky to obtain observations for a few hours along its path in the sky. Since a typical near Earth asteroid takes from a few hundred days to several years to complete a...121asteroid,astronomy,england,nasa,observations,space,telescope,trackfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/623-arecibo--42267243https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42267243Fri, 15 Jan 2021 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe National Science Foundation has announced that it will close and decommission the giant RADAR telescope at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Whip lashing cables during an unpredictable catastrophic collapse of the entire structure make it...121arecibo,asterroid,astronomy,contact,goldeye,nasa,puerto,rico,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/111e-123-a-new-discovery-not--42267197https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42267197Tue, 12 Jan 2021 16:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerI was observing with the NASA funded, Catalina Sky Survey, 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, when I found an interesting moving point of light in the night sky. It appeared to be on the path of an Earth approaching asteroid. I submitted my...121asteroid,astronomy,discovery,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/622-lonely-vigil--42267032https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42267032Fri, 08 Jan 2021 07:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn some nights an asteroid hunter searches for Earth approaching objects near the ecliptic plane where the planets and most of the asteroids are located. During these busy times the telescope takes images of many interesting moving objects. On other...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/110e-122-this-comet-will-never-return--42266964https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42266964Tue, 05 Jan 2021 16:00:20 +0000Albert D. GrauerUnlike Halley's [h AE - l ee ] comet which returns to our neighborhood once about every 76 years, Comet C2013 US10/Catalina will pass this way once never to return. In 2028 Kowalski's comet will pass Pluto's average distance from the Sun. After that...121astronomy,comet,interstellar,nasa,solarsystem,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/621-morning-sky--42266923https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42266923Fri, 01 Jan 2021 07:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerAlthough the orbit of an Aten asteroid crosses our path in space on its travel about the Sun it stays mostly inside the Earth's orbit making it difficult to discover. Since the Aten asteroid 2020 VZ5 is likely to eventually collide with Earth, Venus,...121asteroid,aten,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/109e-121-three-is-a-mystery--42265295https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42265295Tue, 29 Dec 2020 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerWithin a time span of one and a half hours, the two telescopes of the NASA funded, University of Arizona, Catalina Sky Survey, discovered three asteroids whose orbits are similar enough to grab one's attention. However, they different enough to keep...121asteroids,astronomy,earth,nasa,observatory,space,telescope,telesescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/620-interstellar-travelers--42265251https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42265251Fri, 25 Dec 2020 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerFor millennia humans have gazed into the night sky and have dreamed of traveling to the stars. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that one of the objects astronomers discover passing through our solar system was created and is operated by an...121alien,astronomy,earth,exoplanet,interstellar,nasa,probe,starfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/108e-120-finally-a-good-night--42265182https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42265182Tue, 22 Dec 2020 16:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerUnfortunately, after spending many years of my life observing the sky at night I have not observed any alien spacecraft. I too have been waiting for Scotty to beam me up.121asteroid,astronomer,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,spacerocks,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/619-apophis-campaign--42265113https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42265113Fri, 18 Dec 2020 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerCurrently scientists, governments, and private citizens are preparing to mitigate a disaster caused by a large incoming space rock. To test techniques for characterizing a newly discovered potentially threatening asteroid, scientists are planning to...121apophis,asteroid,astronomy,earth,impactor,nasa,planetarydefense,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/107e-119-signs-of-life-on-mars--42264980https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42264980Tue, 15 Dec 2020 16:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerIndisputable proof that life existed or currently exists on the planet Mars has yet to be found. However, tantalizing pieces to this mystery continue to be discovered. It appears that conditions on Mars, 3.8 billion years ago, were similar to those on...121aliens,astronomy,earth,life,mars,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/618-tremendous-find--42264896https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42264896Fri, 11 Dec 2020 16:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate David Rankin searched for asteroids, as close to the Sun as possible with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona. His efforts were rewarded when he discovered 2020 UP3, illuminated like a thin crescent...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/106e-118-a-skyscraper-sized-asteroid-to-pay-a-visit--42264753https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42264753Tue, 08 Dec 2020 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the distant future, an asteroid, with the diameter of the height of the One Worldwide Plaza skyscraper building in New York City, will likely make a close approach to planet Earth. This asteroid, 2014 XL7 makes close approaches to Venus, Earth, and...121asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,earth,impactor,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/617-one-to-track--41421149https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41421149Fri, 04 Dec 2020 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Teddy Pruyne was observing in the constellation Lacerta with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when he spotted an unknown point of light streaking through the night sky. With only 5 days of data its...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/105e-117-a-football-field-sized-asteroid-comes-near--41421119https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41421119Tue, 01 Dec 2020 16:00:18 +0000Albert D. GrauerI was observing with the Catalina Sky Survey, NASA funded, University of Arizona, 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon when a bright fast moving point of light caught my attention. It seemed much too bright not to be known, but when I checked with the...121asteroid,dangerous,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/616-100-million-year-old-crater--41421081https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41421081Fri, 27 Nov 2020 16:00:21 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn western Australia, rock samples and maps of the local geology obtained while exploring for gold show evidence of a 3 mile diameter meteor crater which features a small central pucker like protrusion.121astronomy,crater,gold,impact,meteor,meteorite,meterocrater,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/104e-116-three-potentially-hazardous-asteroids-discovered-in-a-single-night--41421055https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41421055Tue, 24 Nov 2020 16:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn less than three and one half hours, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate, Rose Matheny, discovered three Potentially Hazardous Asteroids with the NASA funded, University of Arizona, Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow. As far as I know, this string of...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/615-solar-storm-forecasts--41415253https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41415253Fri, 20 Nov 2020 16:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerA large solar coronal mass ejection could put astronauts, airline passengers, power grids, electronic devices, and satellites at risk. Participants in the Solar Stormwatch citizen science project estimate the size and shape of coronal mass ejections...121astronomy,aurora,citizenscience,coronal,massejection,solarwind,space,spaceweather,sunfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/103e-115-ballistic-capture--41415183https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41415183Tue, 17 Nov 2020 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerSpacecraft destined for Mars have so far used the Hohmann transfer to achieve an orbit about the red planet. This approach requires the launch from Earth orbit to be in a small window in time which becomes possible every 26 months. When the...121astronomy,colonists,mars,moon,nasa,space,spacecraftfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/614-rare-atira--41415165https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41415165Fri, 13 Nov 2020 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Atira class of Earth approaching asteroids are ones whose orbit is entirely within that of the Earth's path about the Sun. Less than 3 dozen of the approximately 24,000 known near Earth asteroids fall into this category of near Sun objects. The...121asteroid,astronomy,atira,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/102e-114-roses-first-asteroid--41415095https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41415095Tue, 10 Nov 2020 16:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerRose Matheny's third solo night of asteroid hunting, using the University of Arizona Schmidt telescope, on Mt. Bigelow, was one of the longest of the year. She had prepared for this night over the past several months by mastering the unique set of...121asteroid,astronomy,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/613-climate-change-and-telescopes--41415037https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41415037Fri, 06 Nov 2020 16:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently, in the journal Nature Astronomy, a team of astronomers led by Dr. Faustine Cantalloube of the Max-Planck Institute for Astronomy released data from their study of the effects of climate change on the future of astronomical research. Climate...121alien,asteroid,astronomy,darkmatter,earth,lsst,nasa,planet,space,telescope,verarubinfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/101e-113-a-dwarf-water-planet-in-our-solar-system--41414865https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41414865Tue, 03 Nov 2020 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe dwarf planet Ceres may be a place in our solar system where life could have developed. At 590 miles in diameter it is the largest asteroid and only dwarf planet orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. Ceres appears to have rocky core...121astronomy,ceres,dawn,nasa,space,spacecraft,waterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/612-day-and-night--41414839https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41414839Fri, 30 Oct 2020 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerMost life on Earth is synchronized to the regular cycles of day and night. Until about a hundred years ago, the natural night sky was familiar to all humans. Most people could identify a few constellations and had experienced walking by starlight. Now...121astronomy,lightpollution,meteor,milkyway,nasa,night,space,stars,telescope,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/100e-112-a-banner-year-for-asteroid-hunters--40572187https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40572187Tue, 27 Oct 2020 15:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe goal of the NASA Near Earth Object Program is to discover any objects on a collision course with planet Earth. We now know of more than 90% of objects whose impact could cause global climate change. None of them is a current threat. A more...121asteroid,asteroidhunter,dangereous,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/611-aurora-mysteries--40572158https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40572158Tue, 20 Oct 2020 15:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerAuroral displays have been observed and reported on throughout human history. Data from NASA's 5 Themis (Themm us) satellites analyzed by powerful supercomputers is giving us new insight into how our magnetic shield protects us from the harsh...121astronomy,aurora,nasa,night,nightsky,northernlights,space,spacestationfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/99e-111-green-meteors--40572123https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40572123Tue, 20 Oct 2020 15:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently, my wife and I saw a beautiful, bright, green, meteor fireball streaking across the western New Mexico night sky. Such sightings by some UFO enthusiasts , have been advanced as the best observations of alien spacecraft. Other observers have...121astronomy,flyingsaucer,meteor,meteorite,nasa,space,spacestation,ufofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/610-atmospheric-gravity-waves--40572085https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40572085Fri, 16 Oct 2020 15:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerAtmospheric gravity waves can be powerful. In September of 2018 two glider pilots surfed an atmospheric gravity wave created by high speed polar winds as they encounter the Andes mountains. Amazingly their unpowered aircraft reached an altitude of...121astronomy,earth,earthquakes,gravity,hurricanes,nasa,tornadoes,tsunamis,wavesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/98e-110-asteroids-accessible-by-human-space-flights--40572065https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40572065Tue, 13 Oct 2020 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerSo far humans have discovered about 100 asteroids which could be visited by astronauts with current rocket capability. My group, the NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey at the University of Arizona has discovered 65% of these Earth approaching space rocks.121astronaut,astronomy,earth,nasa,rocket,space,spaceshipfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/609-lurking--40572024https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40572024Fri, 09 Oct 2020 15:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerStatistically asteroid hunters have found more than 90% of the asteroids whose impact could cause global climate change. However, recently, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard was observing in the constellation of Pegasus with our 60 inch...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/97e-109-eighteen-sleeps-later--40570065https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40570065Tue, 06 Oct 2020 06:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe NASA, New Horizons spacecraft woke up from its 18th sleeping period in the last 9 years. Its long space naps have lasted an average 104 days each. It has traveled 9 years from Earth and has crossed the orbit of Neptune. Even though the New...121astronomy,jpl,nasa,neptune,newhorizons,pluto,space,uranusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/608-triple-comet--40570004https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40570004Fri, 02 Oct 2020 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently amateur astronomer, Worachate Boonplod discovered the 4049th comet recorded in the imaging data produced by SOHO, the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. To discover your very own comet visit the NASA Sungrazer Project website for...121astronomy,comet,nasa,soho,space,sun,sungrazingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/96e-108-how-close-will-it-come-to-us--40569975https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40569975Tue, 29 Sep 2020 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe goal of the NASA Near Earth Object Program is to provide an early warning should an asteroid be found to be on a path bringing it close to planet Earth. Look at the Near Earth Object websites and you will know about any close approaches as soon...121asteroid,astronomy,dome,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/607-good-night--40569914https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40569914Fri, 25 Sep 2020 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerNearly every day during the monsoon rainy season in the American southwest, afternoon thunderstorms require putting mountain top telescopes and cameras into a lightning safe mode. Through holes in the clouds asteroid hunters continue to search the sky...121asteroid,asteroidhunter,asteroidhunting,astronomy,earth,monsoon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/95e-107-mining-asteroids--40569577https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40569577Tue, 22 Sep 2020 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerScience fiction writers have long imagined human space colonies which use the resources they find.It will take major, risky investments over many years to develop the capability to use asteroids to enable humans to explore our neighborhood in space....121asteroid,astronomy,colonists,japan,mining,nasa,osirus-rex,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/606-falling-stones--40569485https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40569485Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerApproximately 100 million metric tons of mostly sand grained sized space dust enters the Earth's atmosphere every day. Occasionally, larger pieces become fireball meteors which can even be seen in the daytime as they streak across the sky. Sometimes...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,meteor,meteorfall,meteorite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/94e-106-your-reality-fueled-spacecraft--40096377https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40096377Tue, 15 Sep 2020 15:00:18 +0000Albert D. GrauerComputers are extremely efficient at processing numbers while humans excel at visualization. NASA and JPL have developed a computer environment, based on game software architecture, which allows you explore the solar system and beyond using real...121astronaut,astronomy,earth,explore,mars,nasa,rocket,solarsystem,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/605-monsoon-nights--40096356https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40096356Fri, 11 Sep 2020 15:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerEvery year the Monsoon summer rains come to the American southwest in July and August. After the threat of wild fires has been rained out, monsoon time continues to be difficult for asteroid hunters. Even so this season is used to find interesting...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,fire,monsoon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/93e-105-a-new-chapter-in-the-human-exploration-of-space--40096325https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40096325Tue, 08 Sep 2020 15:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe first unmanned test flight of the new NASA Orion Spacecraft went perfectly. It made two orbits of the Earth traveling as far as 3600 miles above the surface of our planet. Its path took it nearly 15 times higher than the international space...121astronauts,astronomy,earth,moon,nasa,orion,rocket,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/604-comet-rankin--40096292https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40096292Fri, 04 Sep 2020 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerThere may be as many as a trillion small icy objects in the Oort cloud near the outer edge of our solar system. Very rarely one of these frozen ice balls is jostled by the gravity of a nearby star causing its distant path about our Sun to be...121astronomy,comet,distant,earth,humans,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/92e-104-jupiter-trojan-confusion--40096234https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40096234Tue, 01 Sep 2020 15:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerHumans know of approximately half million main belt asteroids orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. We have also found approximately 11,000 Earth approaching asteroids. Members of these two groups can be recognized by briefly observing their...121asteroid,asteroidhunting,astronomy,earth,hector,jupiter,nasa,solarsystem,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/603-discovering-alien-life--40096198https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40096198Fri, 28 Aug 2020 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerOur star is only one among hundreds of billions in the Milky Way galaxy which itself is only one of a hundred billion or more galaxies in the known universe. How can it be that humans are the only creatures to look at the night sky and wonder about...121alien,astronomy,earth,extraterrestrial,humans,megastructiures,nasa,space,technosignature,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/91e-103-small-asteroids-in-earth-like-orbits--40096174https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40096174Tue, 25 Aug 2020 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerFour days after it made its closest approach to Earth, I found a 10 foot diameter asteroid with the NASA funded University of Arizona 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon. At that point it was 838,000 miles from us and was moving away at about 3...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/602-solar-flares--40095415https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40095415Fri, 21 Aug 2020 15:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerSome stars can have flares which can cause them to more than double in brightness in a few minutes. Fortunately our Sun does not do that and the Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field protect humans from the smaller flares which do occur on our star....121astronomy,earth,nasa,solarflares,space,sun,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/90e-102-little-asteroid-on-an-inside-track--40095395https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40095395Tue, 18 Aug 2020 15:00:14 +0000Albert D. Grauer2014 US7 is called an Aten [Ah tin] type of asteroid. The first of its type was discovered by Dr. Eleanor Key Francis "Glo" Helin in 1976. She was an American astronomer who discovered more than 800 asteroids and several comets. During her long career...121asteroid,astronomy,aten,earth,helin,nasa,space,sun,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/601-phaethon-s-child--40095344https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40095344Fri, 14 Aug 2020 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerPhaethon (Faith on) is a strange, 4 mile diameter, blueish asteroid. It travels on an orbit which comes so close to the Sun that its exterior is heated to 1,500 F. When you go out to view the Geminids in December you might consider what this space...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,geminids,meteors,meteorshower,nasa,space,sun,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/89e-101-navigating-the-earth-moon-dance--39851913https://api.spreaker.com/episode/39851913Tue, 11 Aug 2020 15:00:16 +0000Albert D. Grauer121astronomy,earth,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/600-big-and-close--39851866https://api.spreaker.com/episode/39851866Fri, 07 Aug 2020 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Hannes Groeller was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Pegasus with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when he discovered a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid . Rest assured that astronomers will continue to...121asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/88e-100-where-extension-cords-can-t-reach--39851780https://api.spreaker.com/episode/39851780Tue, 04 Aug 2020 15:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerMarie Curie's discovery of radioactivity started humans on a path which so far has skirted annihilation and has led to cures for cancer and the exploration of the distant regions of our solar system.If you want to get an idea about what our knowledge...121astronomy,jupiter,nasa,neptune,pluto,saturn,space,spacecraftfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/599-path-to-mars--39851743https://api.spreaker.com/episode/39851743Fri, 31 Jul 2020 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe human thirst for knowledge about our mysterious next door neighbor is about to receive more than a sip from robotic emissaries launched in 2020. Recently a group of scientists point out that by having astronauts fly by Venus on their way to Mars...121astronaut,astronomy,china,colony,mars,nasa,rocket,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/87e-99-peppered-by-space-rocks--30047973https://api.spreaker.com/episode/30047973Tue, 28 Jul 2020 15:00:21 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt appears that the human population is at more at risk from smaller rather than larger Earth impacting asteroids.During the past 20 years more than 550 small asteroids ranging in size from 3 to 60 feet in diameter have entered the Earth's atmosphere....121astronomy,chelyabinsk,earth,fireball,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/598-illusive-asteroids--30047886https://api.spreaker.com/episode/30047886Fri, 24 Jul 2020 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Hannes Groeller was observing in the constellation of Boötes with our 60 telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when he discovered a potentially hazardous asteroid which had evaded being spotted by the asteroid hunting...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,dangerous,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/86e-98-small-objects-visiting-our-neighborhood--30047854https://api.spreaker.com/episode/30047854Tue, 21 Jul 2020 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerEvery month we discover small asteroids which come closer than the Moon. There are probably 20 million asteroids in this size range which come near the Earth. A few of these may eventually impact our planet. Those that do are likely to explode high...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,discover,nasa,space,spacerock,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/597-aging-satellites--30047761https://api.spreaker.com/episode/30047761Fri, 17 Jul 2020 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerIf we don't place some new space weather observing satellites into orbit it is possible that you will wake up one day to no electricity, no cell phone, no way to pump gas, and no way to pay for things with a credit card.121astronomy,dcsovr,nasa,soho,space,spaceweather,sun,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/85e-97-a-large-strange-one--30044436https://api.spreaker.com/episode/30044436Tue, 14 Jul 2020 15:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my, University of Arizona, Catalina Sky Survey, teammate, Jess Johnson, was searching for Earth Approaching asteroids when he discovered a faint slow moving object in the night sky. Six nights of followup observations revealed that this new...121asteroid,astronomy,centaur,nasa,neptune,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/596-next-solar-cycle--30043384https://api.spreaker.com/episode/30043384Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerIf the current trend in 11 year solar cycles for the past 50 years continues, we can expect lower than average solar activity and the Earth will continue to receive less than average amounts of solar energy over the next decade. Don't expect lower...121astronomy,discovery,globalwarming,nasa,satellites,space,sun,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/84e-96-target-asteroids--30041049https://api.spreaker.com/episode/30041049Tue, 07 Jul 2020 15:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerMany scientists have been started on their career paths by an interest in astronomy and the mysteries of space. As technology has developed it has become more difficult for students to be involved in hands-on scientific research. Target Asteroids...121asteroid,astronomy,discover,nasa,space,students,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/595-monster-comet--30035619https://api.spreaker.com/episode/30035619Fri, 03 Jul 2020 15:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Teddy Pruyne was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Pegasus with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona when he discovered an unusually bright new comet. Since astronomers have observed this comet for less...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,nasa,solarsystem,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/83e-95-phantom-meteor-shower--30033671https://api.spreaker.com/episode/30033671Tue, 30 Jun 2020 15:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerComet Blanpain was discovered in 1819 and was described as having a small confused nucleus. It was lost a few months after its discovery and pronounced dead. It 1956 a meteor outburst was observed by the crew of a Japanese expedition ship on its way...121astronomy,blainpain,comet,meteor,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/594-earth-grazer--30033605https://api.spreaker.com/episode/30033605Fri, 26 Jun 2020 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid hunters have discovered that the Earth encounters many tiny asteroids as it zips around the Sun at 67,000 miles per hour. Recently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Hannes Growler discovered an approximately 15 foot diameter space rock, now...121asteroid,astronomy,close,earth,impactor,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/82e-94-you-are-close-to-outer-space--30033454https://api.spreaker.com/episode/30033454Tue, 23 Jun 2020 15:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerHow often do you traveled 5, 10, or more miles on a shopping trip? If instead of traveling on the Earth's surface you were to travel 6 miles straight up, to the realm of the jet airliner, you would likely need oxygen to stay conscious. At an altitude...121astronomy,iss,nasa,space,telescopes,travelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/593-kacpers-first-comet--30033288https://api.spreaker.com/episode/30033288Fri, 19 Jun 2020 15:00:09 +0000Albert D. Grauer121falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/81e-93-name-that-asteroid--26646422https://api.spreaker.com/episode/26646422Tue, 16 Jun 2020 15:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt has been traditional for an asteroid to be named by its discoverer. The 1990s were the golden age for private individuals as computerized telescopes and electronic cameras became affordable and readily available. The number of catalogued asteroids...121asteroid,astronomy,discovery,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/592-invasion--26646374https://api.spreaker.com/episode/26646374Fri, 12 Jun 2020 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerDue to thoughtless outdoor night lighting on the surface and satellites in space the natural night sky is becoming a vanishing treasure. From climate change to saving our natural night sky we must join together to prevent the thoughtless use of...121astronomy,climatechange,comet,lightpollution,nasa,satellite,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/80e-92-an-earth-approaching-comet--26646194https://api.spreaker.com/episode/26646194Tue, 09 Jun 2020 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski has discovered an Earth approaching comet that comes within 18 million miles of our home planet. It orbits the Sun every 5 and a half years on a path that takes it from a point between the Earth and...121astronomy,comet,earth,mars,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/591-teddy-s-first-comet--26645990https://api.spreaker.com/episode/26645990Fri, 05 Jun 2020 15:00:19 +0000Albert D. GrauerOne of the perks of being an asteroid hunter is to discover a comet and have it carry your name. Teddy's first comet discovery is a member of a group of approximately 200 such small comets which circle the Sun with orbital periods of less than 20...121astronomy,comet,discovery,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/79e-91-faster-than-a-speeding-bullet--26645903https://api.spreaker.com/episode/26645903Tue, 02 Jun 2020 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerFaster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Its not Superman, its a meteoroid. Yes, a volleyball sized stoney meteoroid, which is typically traveling 15 to 60 times faster than a high powered rifle bullet, has 8 times the kinetic...121astronomy,energy,fireball,meteor,meteorite,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/590-noctilucent-clouds--26645814https://api.spreaker.com/episode/26645814Fri, 29 May 2020 15:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerSee Climate Change! Noctilucent Clouds exist at more than 50 miles above the Earth's surface or about 4 times higher than the tops of the most intense tropical thunder storms. Climate change has caused these once very rare clouds to become a common...121astronomy,climate,climatechange,clouds,nasa,noctilucent,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/78e-90-shine-little-asteroid-shine--26645771https://api.spreaker.com/episode/26645771Tue, 26 May 2020 15:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently I was observing with the NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey 60 inch on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when I discovered a 200 foot diameter asteroid, 2014 SC324. It is in an orbit around the Sun which takes it from inside our planet's path to 60% of the...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/589-defending-earth--26643778https://api.spreaker.com/episode/26643778Fri, 22 May 2020 15:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe International Asteroid Warning Network, or IWAN (Eye-Whan) for short has been established to link scientists who are discovering, monitoring, and physically characterizing potentially dangerous asteroids. In the future the coordinated efforts of...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/77e-89-witnessing-an-asteroid-impact--26643679https://api.spreaker.com/episode/26643679Tue, 19 May 2020 15:00:20 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently I discovered a small asteroid with the NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon. This space rock is about 200 feet in diameter and will never get closer than 1/4 of the distance to the Moon. A friend asked what it...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,tunguskafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/588-encounter-with-saturn--26643579https://api.spreaker.com/episode/26643579Fri, 15 May 2020 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerFrom 1663 to 2011, seven comets had close encounters with Jupiter and two had close encounters with Saturn. In May of 1936, Comet P/2020 F1 Leonard had a close encounter with Saturn. In the distant past, Comet Leonard was captured by Jupiter and is...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,jupiter,nasa,saturn,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/76e-88-space-rocks--24430411https://api.spreaker.com/episode/24430411Tue, 12 May 2020 15:00:20 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid 2008 TC3 is the only asteroid which was observed to be hurtling between planets, flying through our atmosphere, and pieces of it found to be lying on the Earth's Surface. NASA funded, Catalina Sky Survey team member, Richard Kowalski...1212008tc3,asteroid,astronomy,earth,explode,mars,meteor,meteorite,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/587-quiet-sun--24430364https://api.spreaker.com/episode/24430364Fri, 08 May 2020 15:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerImages of the quiet Sun during a solar minimum make it look like a relatively static peaceful place. Occasionally during solar minimum, at the Cosmic Campground, in New Mexico, on a clear moonless night, you can easily see to walk around without a...121astronomy,campground,cosmic,cosmiccampground,nasa,satellite,soho,solarwind,space,spaceweather,sunfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/75e-87-mom-reaches-mars--24430261https://api.spreaker.com/episode/24430261Tue, 05 May 2020 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerIndia's Mars Orbiter Mission or MOM has made the 10 month journey from Earth to Mars. India joins the United States, Russia, and the European Space Agency in the exploration of the red planet by placing its Mangalyann [Mangle Yarn] spacecraft into...121alien,astronomy,duststorm,earth,exploration,india,life,mars,methane,nasa,redplanet,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/586-northern-pha--24430231https://api.spreaker.com/episode/24430231Fri, 01 May 2020 15:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate David Rankin was observing in the constellation of Ursae Major with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when he spotted a rare fast moving point of light far north of the area in the sky which contains the...121asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,caltech,dangereous,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/74e-86-a-close-flyby--24430160https://api.spreaker.com/episode/24430160Tue, 28 Apr 2020 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently a semi-trailer trailer truck sized asteroid passed only 20,800 miles above the Earth's surface. It reached its closest distance to us about 6 days after it was discovered by team member, Richard Kowalski, of the NASA funded Catalina Sky...121asteroid,astronomy,discovery,earth,impactor,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/585-mini-moon-ii--24430111https://api.spreaker.com/episode/24430111Fri, 24 Apr 2020 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammates Kacper Wierzchos and Teddy Pruyne were asteroid hunting in the constellation of Virgo with our 60 inch telescope when they spotted a second natural Moon. Scientists predict there are hundreds smaller than softball...121asteroid,astronomy,discover,earth,gemini,minimoon,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/73e-85-obscuring-the-cosmos--24430003https://api.spreaker.com/episode/24430003Tue, 21 Apr 2020 15:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerImagine a world where people are never able to see the Milky Way or a meteor streaking like a falling star in the night sky. For most of the people living in the Earth's cities this has already happened. In the United States most people live in...121astronomy,cosmiccampground,darksky,ida,space,telescope,universefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/584-pop-up-comets--24429964https://api.spreaker.com/episode/24429964Fri, 17 Apr 2020 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate David Rankin was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Virgo when he spotted a fuzzy ball with a tail moving through the night sky. The small possibility that such frozen gas ball could come near Earth at a speed of...121astronomy,bright,comet,earth,nasa,space,telescope,virgofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/72e-84-interplanetary-travelers-martian-meteorites--24429800https://api.spreaker.com/episode/24429800Tue, 14 Apr 2020 15:00:18 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently, Dr. Stephanie C. Werner of the University of Oslo in Norway and her colleagues have discovered the source of some of the Martian meteorites found on Earth. It is the 34 mile diameter Mojave Crater on Mars. The debris ejected from this impact...121antarctica,asteroid,astronomy,collision,mars,meteorite,nasa,space,waterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/583-a-woman-and-pluto--24429741https://api.spreaker.com/episode/24429741Fri, 10 Apr 2020 15:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerElizabeth William graduated from MIT in 1903 as one of the top students in physics and mathematics. As the head "human computer" at Lowell Observatory She used the motions of Uranus and Neptune to predict the location of Planet X. Elizabeth Williams...121astronomy,discover,lowell,nasa,neptune,pluto,scientist,space,telescope,uranus,womenfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/71e-83-two-space-rocks-come-close-to-planet-earth-in-a-week--23011626https://api.spreaker.com/episode/23011626Tue, 07 Apr 2020 15:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe NASA funded, University of Arizona, Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, AZ was used to discover two close approaching space rocks on the same night.Rest assured that the asteroid hunting community will keep track of these two new space rocks to make...121asteroid,astronomy,catalina,close,earth,meteor,meteroite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/582-stealthy-asteroid--23010209https://api.spreaker.com/episode/23010209Fri, 03 Apr 2020 15:00:21 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroids which approach Earth from inside of our orbit about the Sun are often difficult to discover and may represent a unique threat to our home planet. My Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls discovered one of these stealthy asteroids with our...121asteroid,astronomy,crater,earth,impact,meteor,meteroite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/70e-82-interplanetary-travelers-antartic-meteorites--23009019https://api.spreaker.com/episode/23009019Tue, 31 Mar 2020 15:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the cold deserts of Antarctica nature collects meteorites as ice sheets carrying space rocks are pushed up against mountains. High speed winds remove the ice leaving dozens to hundreds of meteorites stranded in an area often as small as a football...121antarctica,asteroid,astronomy,earth,meteor,meteorite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/581-planet-hunting--23008978https://api.spreaker.com/episode/23008978Fri, 27 Mar 2020 15:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe hunt is on for Earth like planets which are close enough for us to study in detail. The NASA Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS for short, is observing nearby stars looking for planet revealing dips in brightness, which occurs when a...121aliens,astronomy,dorado,earth,exoplanet,nasa,space,toi700dfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/69e-81-views-from-the-shores-of-the-cosmic-ocean--22997684https://api.spreaker.com/episode/22997684Tue, 24 Mar 2020 15:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerBefore artificial lighting many people knew the night sky the way humans of today know their favorite TV channels. There are still places where you can view the naturally appearing sky. There is a new accessible night sky viewing area in the Gila...121astronomy,earth,nasa,nightsky,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/580-kacper-s-debut--22997211https://api.spreaker.com/episode/22997211Fri, 20 Mar 2020 15:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn his first night of solo observing with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Kacper Wierzchos discovered 8 new Earth approaching objects. Theoretically Kacper's smallest discovery, a 20 foot diameter space...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,meteorites,meteors,nasa,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/68e-80-rocks-from-space-tell-a-tale--22995408https://api.spreaker.com/episode/22995408Tue, 17 Mar 2020 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe history of our part of the Universe is written with a fine point in the space rocks which orbit our Sun. Some of them carry small grains of material from the cloud of gas and dust from which our solar system formed. They also carry clocks....121asteroid,astronomy,earth,meteor,meteorite,moon,nasa,space,spacerockfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/579-martian-vacation--22995252https://api.spreaker.com/episode/22995252Fri, 13 Mar 2020 15:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerSpaceX's new rockets fuel the dream of visiting some of the planet Mars' unique and spectacular wonders. Today you can visit the NASA Mars Curiosity Rover and/or the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter website and participate in the exploration of our...121astronomy,curiosity,earth,mars,nasa,olympusmons,rover,spacex,vacationfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/67e-79-interplanetary-travelers-lunar-meteorites--22995212https://api.spreaker.com/episode/22995212Tue, 10 Mar 2020 15:00:19 +0000Albert D. GrauerAbout one out of a thousand meteorites that you find on Earth started out on the Moon. They were given escape velocity from the Moon as a result of the impact of an asteroid or comet. These lunar space rocks orbit the Sun or Earth and most of them...121asteroid,astronauts,astronomy,earth,impact,lunar,meteorite,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/578-first-pha--22995104https://api.spreaker.com/episode/22995104Fri, 06 Mar 2020 16:00:21 +0000Albert D. GrauerAssuming the first potentially hazardous asteroid of 2020 has a chemical composition similar to the stony meteorites we find on Earth, it could contain about a million metric tons of metals like iron, nickel, platinum, gold, and other rare minerals...121asteroid,asteroidhunting,astronomy,earth,hazardous,mining,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/66e-78-up-close-and-personal-with-a-comet--21924657https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21924657Tue, 03 Mar 2020 16:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerFrom the dawn of recorded history, comets have been viewed as the bringers of everything from gloom and doom to water and life. In reality, comets are a sample of material which was present in the cloud of gas and dust which condensed to form our Sun...12167/p,astronomy,comet,esa,nasa,nucleus,rosetta,space,spacecraftfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/577-comet-fuls--21924627https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21924627Fri, 28 Feb 2020 16:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Leo when he spotted a faint fuzzy looking object with a tail moving through the night sky. A recent scientific study suggests that in the next few thousand years,...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,globalwarming,jupiter,mars,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/65e-77-extremely-old-world-could-harbor-life--21924611https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21924611Tue, 25 Feb 2020 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerRadar beams that are reflected from your car as you travel down a highway reveal your speed and direction. In a similar way, scientists using a telescope in Chile have discovered two planets orbiting a nearby reddish star by measuring the tiny...121alien,astronomy,chile,earth,kapteyn,life,nasa,space,telescope,universefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/576-loneliest-asteroid--21924544https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21924544Fri, 21 Feb 2020 16:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerA recently discovered asteroid spends most of its time high above the plane of the solar system far from our Sun. Unknown asteroids on such a path worry asteroid hunters since one could appear from out of nowhere and be on a collision path with planet...121asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,dangereous,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/64e-76-waking-up-to-no-satellites--21924483https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21924483Tue, 18 Feb 2020 16:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhat would your day be like if you woke up and there were no functioning artificial Earth satellites? All of us have become used to finding our way with GPS satellites, watching satellite TV, obtaining up to date satellite weather information, and...121astronomy,cellphone,earth,flare,nasa,satellite,solar,solarflare,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/575-big-dangerous-and-tough--21924464https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21924464Fri, 14 Feb 2020 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Teddy Pruyne, discovered a potentially dangerous and perhaps valuable asteroid with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, AZ as it streaked through the constellation of Leo. Though Teddy's discovery is unlikely...121asteroid,astronomy,dangerous,earth,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/63e-75-will-space-aliens-discover-us-by-our-pollution--21923536https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21923536Tue, 11 Feb 2020 16:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen a distant planet passes in front of its star some of the star's radiation goes through the planet's atmosphere. The pattern of colors or wavelengths which are present and missing tells us what is in the planet's atmosphere. The NASA Kepler...121alien,astronomy,detectinglife,earth,nasa,pollution,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/574-record-year--21921920https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21921920Fri, 07 Feb 2020 16:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2019, asteroid hunters set a new record by discovering 2,433 Earth approaching objects including 85 which could potentially become a threat to planet Earth. Fortunately, none of these 2,433 nearby celestial neighbors, having an average diameter of...121asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,earth,impact,impactearth,meteor,meteroite,nasa,space,telescope,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/62e-74-space-aliens-listening-to-our-sun--21921818https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21921818Tue, 04 Feb 2020 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerSuppose that a space alien were so far from us that our Sun appears as a tiny point of light in it's night sky. What would the space alien receive if it pointed it's radio antennas at our Sun?121alien,astronomy,earth,flyingsaucer,life,nasa,space,spacealienfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/573-sweet-asteroid--21921685https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21921685Fri, 31 Jan 2020 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerOver the past 50 years, in the interior of Australian meteorites, scientists have discovered a large variety of extraterrestrial organic substances. These include amino acids, sugars, alcohols, and a variety of aromatic hydrocarbons. Other meteorites...121alien,alienlife,asteroid,astronomy,bennu,earth,globalwarming,meteor,meteroite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/61e-73-mars-2020-rover--21088749https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21088749Tue, 28 Jan 2020 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the 50 years that human made Travelers In The Night have been visiting the planet Mars we have discovered a wealth of interesting information about our neighbor in space. Mars has a surface which about the size of the land areas on Earth. It has...1212020,astronomy,curiosity,mars,nasa,opportunity,rover,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/572-david-s-fireball--21088618https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21088618Fri, 24 Jan 2020 16:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate David Rankin's backyard all sky camera in Tucson, Arizona recorded a brilliant fireball meteor which took a leisurely 15 seconds to cross the entire sky. It was last seen by a trucker on Interstate 10 near...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,fireball,impact,meteor,meteorite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/60e-72-could-space-aliens-detect-life-on-earth--21087961https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21087961Tue, 21 Jan 2020 16:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerIf a space alien were to peer around the edge of the Moon from its base on the far side it could see our lights at night and perhaps even the smoke from our factories during the day. It could also pick up radio and TV signals created by humans. An...121aliens,astronomy,earth,flyingsaucers,nasa,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/571-comet-groeller--21087908https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21087908Fri, 17 Jan 2020 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Hannes Groeller was asteroid hunting, in the constellation of Hydra, with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when he discovered a rather distant comet. On its current path it cannot get closer than four times...121astronomy,comet,discovery,earth,jupiter,nasa,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/59e-71-martian-women--21087870https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21087870Tue, 14 Jan 2020 16:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerCurrently, women are exploring the planet Mars. Dr. Joy Crisp is the Deputy Project scientist for the Mars Science Laboratory. Nicole Spanovich is the Curiosity Mars Rover Science Operations Team Chief. There is also a whole team of women who have...121astronomy,exploration,mars,nasa,rovers,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/570-catastrophic-wreckage--21087741https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21087741Fri, 10 Jan 2020 16:00:21 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently a group of high inclination asteroids hiding in Jupiter's shadow have been identified. Encounters with the giant planet's gravity could cause some of them to experience orbital changes making them a threat to Earth. Stay tuned121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,solarsystem,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/58e-70-nasa-mars-spacecraft-prepare-for-a-close-flyby--20366568https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20366568Tue, 07 Jan 2020 16:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerRobert McNaught discovered a comet as it was traveling northward from under the plane of the Earth's orbit. He was observing at the Siding Spring Observatory in New South Wales Australia. This object was tracked by telescopes all around the world...121astronomy,comet,earth,halley,mars,nasa,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/569-fossil-ice--20365084https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20365084Fri, 03 Jan 2020 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecent findings, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research suggests that there is more water locked in the minerals of nearby asteroids, which are easier to reach than the Moon, than could be found in ice deposits near the lunar poles. This...121asteroids,astronomy,colonists,earth,lunar,moon,space,travelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/57e-69-fly-out-of-spaceport-america--20365060https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20365060Tue, 31 Dec 2019 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerSpaceShipTwo will carry 6 passengers and two pilots and be launched from the 18,000 acre SpacePort America in New Mexico121america,rocket,space,spaceportfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/568-tough-space-rock--20365004https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20365004Fri, 27 Dec 2019 16:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerAt its closest point, a small space rock comes to only 1/3 of Mercury's average distance from the solar surface and receives 9 times the amount of solar energy which heats the planet Mercury to 800F. If it has the chemical composition of a stony...121astronomy,colonists,heat,mercury,nasa,radar,space,sun,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/56e-68-hubble-finds-three-surprising-dry-exoplanets--20364969https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20364969Tue, 24 Dec 2019 16:00:18 +0000Albert D. GrauerWater is essential to life on our planet. Recently, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope was used to study 3 planets orbiting stars similar to our Sun. Astronomers divided the infrared light from these planets into its component colors to see which are...121aliens,astronomy,hubble,nasa,planets,space,waterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/567-close-space-rock--20364929https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20364929Fri, 20 Dec 2019 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerNine hours after it was discovered a tiny, 4 foot in diameter, space rock streaked less than 4,000 miles above southern Africa as it passed through the cloud of communications satellites which surround our planet. If you are fortunate to witness such...121asteroidhunters,asteroids,astronomy,communication,earth,nasa,nearmiss,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/55e-67-nasa-deep-space-network-turns-50--20364906https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20364906Tue, 17 Dec 2019 16:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerNASA's Deep Space Network is celebrating its 50th birthday. Australia, Spain, and California host its three sites. These facilities are spaced nearly evenly around the world to provide continuous communication with any spacecraft.121astronomy,communications,deepspace,mars,nasa,radio,space,voyagerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/566-october-fest--20364511https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20364511Fri, 13 Dec 2019 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerOctober of 2019 was a record breaking month for my team the Catalina Sky Survey during which we discovered 240 Earth approaching asteroids. This diverse collection of space rocks ranged in size from one that would fit into the bed of a small pickup...121asteroidhunters,asteroids,astronomy,earth,impactor,nasa,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/54e-66-opportunity-celebrates-10-years-on-mars--20364450https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20364450Tue, 10 Dec 2019 16:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Opportunity Rover has been joined by, a car sized robot, named Curiosity. So far it has found that ancient Mars could have supported living microbes. You can follow its journey on the NASA Curiosity website. What will it find next?121astronomy,exploration,mars,nasa,opportunity,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/565-ancient-crater--19366974https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19366974Fri, 06 Dec 2019 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn ancient times, Aboriginal people in southwestern Australia quarried fine grained rock on an ancient hill called Barlangi Rock to make very sharp tools. Dr. Timmons Erickson, a NASA scientist at the Johnson Space Flight Center, led a team which...121aboriginies,astronomy,climate,earth,ice,iceage,meteroite,nasa,space,toolsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/53e-65-your-shield--19366947https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19366947Tue, 03 Dec 2019 16:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe NEOShield project is an international group of scientists and engineers from space faring nations. They are doing the detailed analysis and planning required to provide an effective means of dealing with an asteroid which is on a collision course...121asteroid,astronomy,dangereous,impact,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/564-heavy-traffic--19366897https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19366897Fri, 29 Nov 2019 16:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the space of less than 13 hours four small space rocks zipped through the Earth-Moon neighborhood. All of them were discovered by my team, the NASA funded, Catalina Sky Survey, before they made close approaches to our home planet.121asteroid,astronomy,flyby,impact,nasa,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/52e-64-asteroid-brings-life-s-ingredients-to-earth--19366830https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19366830Tue, 26 Nov 2019 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerA unique opportunity occurred in January of 2000, when a large meteoroid exploded and rained down pieces onto the frozen surface of Tagish Lake in British Columbia.Dr. Christopher Herd of the University of Alberta said that the first Tagish Lake...121alien,alienlife,aminoacids,asteroid,astronomy,earth,life,meteorite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/563-pre-autumnal-harvest--19366720https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19366720Fri, 22 Nov 2019 16:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn a clear but windy night, near the fall equinox, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard was able to discover and verify 23 new Earth approaching objects as they passed through our celestial neighborhood.121asteroidhunters,asteroids,astronomy,earth,impactor,nasa,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/51e-63-rocks-from-space-bearing-vitamin-b3--19281772https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19281772Tue, 19 Nov 2019 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerResearch indicates that Vitamin B3 can form on ice crystals in deep space. From there asteroids and comets can bring it to Earth. How rocks from space play into life as we know it remains a mystery for us to ponder.121aminoacids,astronomy,comets,life,meteorite,nasa,space,vitaminb3falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/562-monster-space-rock--19281079https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19281079Fri, 15 Nov 2019 16:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn object the size of this huge space rock enters the Earth's atmosphere every 180,000 years with an energy of 5,800 megatons of TNT. The only place to survive would be in an underground bunker.121asteroid,astronomy,climatechange,global,impact,impactor,nasa,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/50e-62-from-big-dark-asteroid-to-beautiful-bright-comet--19281062https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19281062Tue, 12 Nov 2019 16:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerAbout 26 weeks after its discovery, astronomers in Australia were the first to notice that an asteroid was beginning to have a fuzzy appearance. Six weeks later, Damian Peach, in England, took a stunning image showing this object is a beautiful...121asteroid,astronomy,beautiful,comet,nasa,space,telescope,transformationfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/561-hannes-is-back--19281030https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19281030Fri, 08 Nov 2019 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring the monsoon rainy season, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate, Hannes Groeller took a vacation in his native Austria. Returning to begin the fall season of observing with our Schmidt Telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona, Hannes discovered 7 new Earth...121arizona,asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,austria,hunter,monsoon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/49e-61-there-are-still-big-ones-out-there--19281000https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19281000Tue, 05 Nov 2019 16:00:21 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid Hunters have discovered almost 900 Earth Approaching Asteroids whose impact could trigger global climate change. Fortunately none of them are on a collision course with planet Earth. Statistically we expect that there about another 100 out...121asteroid,astronomy,dangereous,impactor,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/560-wet-nights--19280982https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19280982Fri, 01 Nov 2019 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerOne of the most frustrating situations for an asteroid hunter is a night when the stars are shining bright above the mountain but the humidity is so high that it is impossible to open the telescope's dome without damaging sensitive optics and electronics.121asteroids,astronomy,earth,humidity,impactor,mountain,nasa,sidingsprings,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/48e-60-a-close-visit-with-a-message--18982644https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18982644Tue, 29 Oct 2019 15:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerEric Christensen was observing with the NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey Telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when he discovered a bright fast moving object in the night sky. During the next 25 hours it was observed by telescopes in Arizona and France and...121asteroid,astronomy,chelyabinsk,impactor,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/559-farming-mars--18982623https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18982623Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:00:19 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn Earth plants provide us with medicines, food to eat, and oxygen to breathe. In the future, in addition to providing treats like strawberries it turns out that tending to the needs vegetables and watching them grow can help space travelers cope with...121astronaut,astronomy,colonist,food,iss,mars,nasa,plant,space,spacetravelerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/47e-59-spotting-travelers-in-the-night--18982604https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18982604Tue, 22 Oct 2019 15:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerTravelers In The Night from outer space are closer than you may imagine. If you were to go straight up more than 4 miles you would need supplementary oxygen to stay conscious. At 50 - 70 miles, the realm of meteors, humans require a full space suit...121astronomy,fireball,meteor,meteroite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/558-exploring-the-lunar-south-pole--18982594https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18982594Fri, 18 Oct 2019 15:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe race to explore the Moon by robots and eventually human lunar colonists is on. Near the lunar south pole human space colonists could use solar energy to power equipment and keep warm, manufacture needed items, and most importantly have water to...121colonist,india,lunar,moon,nasa,southpole,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/46e-58-nasa-hunts-for-a-special-asteroid--18982502https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18982502Tue, 15 Oct 2019 15:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerSeveral years ago the NASA funded Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research Program discovered an SUV sized asteroid which comes closer to Earth than about 1/6 of the distance to the Moon. It was2011 MD's mass and size make it a good candidate for NASA's...121asteroid,astronaut,astronomy,nasa,orion,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/557-back-on-the-sky--18982472https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18982472Fri, 11 Oct 2019 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the American southwest we welcome the Monsoon rainy season during which the Earth receives much needed moisture. However, after six weeks of clouds, thunder, rain, hail, and lightning asteroid hunters are glad to be on the sky again.121asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,hunter,monsoon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/45e-57-hold-a-traveler-in-the-night-in-your-hand--18982427https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18982427Tue, 08 Oct 2019 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerImagine holding a rock as old as our solar system that has traveled billions of miles through space to reach its present location. It might even be worth real money. We are talking about a meteorite that you have just discovered.121asteroid,astronomy,meteor,meteorite,nasa,space,spacerockfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/556-earthly-moon-rock--18981787https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18981787Fri, 04 Oct 2019 15:00:20 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn a most amazing turn of events, an international team of astronomers have published research in the Journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters which indicates that the a 3.9 Billion year old rock brought back by Apollo 14 astronauts is actually a...121asteroid,astronaut,astronomy,earth,impact,lunar,meteorite,moon,rocket,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/44e-56-a-whopper-or-a-comet--18981763https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18981763Tue, 01 Oct 2019 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. Grauer2014 LJ21 is an asteroid, its brightness suggests that it is about 1 and a quarter miles in diameter. This estimate is based on the assumption that it reflects about 15% of the Sun light which strikes it. The impact of an asteroid this size would...121asteroid,astronomy,climatechange,comet,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/555-dead-comet-dust--18981727https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18981727Fri, 27 Sep 2019 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Phoenicids are a minor meteor shower which was discovered by the first Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition on December 5, 1956. To spot the illusive Phoenicids for yourself plan to observe during their expected peak which occurs around December...121asteroid,comet,dead,impact,japan,meteor,meteorites,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/43e-55-radar-telescopes-pair-up-to-imagenea--18981675https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18981675Tue, 24 Sep 2019 15:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerRADAR observations of asteroids and comets are an important way to measure an objects size, shape, and rate of spin. The precise distance measurements they provide make it possible to predict an object's path far into the future and thus determine if...121asteroids,astronomy,impact,nasa,neowise,radar,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/554-martian-rolling-stones--18981173https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18981173Fri, 20 Sep 2019 06:00:20 +0000Albert D. GrauerImagine how strange and wonderful it would be to witness such an event. When the impacting object hit it produced huge boulders, which held loosely by Phobos's weak gravity, continued to roll around and around this tiny moon, bouncing and leaping over...121astronaut,astronomy,explore,mars,martian,moon,nasa,phobos,rollingstones,space,stonesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/42e-54-tour-a-neighbor-world--18980911https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18980911Tue, 17 Sep 2019 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerOur Moon is the only other world whose surface can be easily viewed by humans. The 59% of its surface visible from Earth is about 53 times the area of the state of California. It has a fascinating landscape which continues to impress observers.You...121astronomy,colonist,explore,lunar,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/553-exploring-the-far-side--18980776https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18980776Fri, 13 Sep 2019 15:00:18 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Chinese, Chang'e 4 made a soft landing on the far side of the Moon where it is impossible to have direct radio communications with the Earth. Its companion Yutu rover whose name means "Jade Rabbit" is making scientific measurements and sending...121astronauts,astronomy,chinese,colonists,exploring,farside,moon,nasa,rover,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/41e-53-where-is-juno--18747521https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18747521Tue, 10 Sep 2019 06:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe planet Jupiter is less important to us than the Earth, Sun, and Moon. However, it hold clues about the formation of our solar system and does send some comets towards us while causing others to miss our home planet.121astronomy,earth,jupiter,nasa,space,space travel,sunfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/552-night-sky-surprise--18747501https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18747501Fri, 06 Sep 2019 06:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn October 7, 2018 the moonless night sky became 25% brighter and reached the point where it is at a small light polluted city, all without human intervention. A check of the spaceweather.com website shows that from October 7 to 11 the Earth had...121airglow,astronomy,darksky,nasa,nightsky,solarwind,space,sunfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/40e-52-another-large-bright-suddenly-appearing-asteroid--18747478https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18747478Tue, 03 Sep 2019 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn unknown, quarter of a mile diameter asteroid, reached its furthest distance from the Sun on June 17, 2012. It brightened 10,000 times as it approached and crossed the Earth's orbit.Fortunately it never gets closer to the Earth than about 18 times...121asteroid,astronomy,close,dangerous,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/551-exploding-space-rocks--18747468https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18747468Fri, 30 Aug 2019 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2018 there were 15 Meteorite Fall Events for which observers saw a fireball streaking across the sky which then led to the discovery of pieces of the celestial visitor on the ground. Amazingly two of the 2018 space rock fragments, called hammers,...121asteroid,asteroidbelt,astronomy,earth,meteor,meteorite,nasa,space,spacerockfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/39e-51-asteroid-2007-vk184-eliminated-as-an-impact-risk-to-earth--18747452https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18747452Tue, 27 Aug 2019 15:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn November 12, 2007, Alex Gibbs, using the NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey Schmidt telescope, discovered a bright fast moving asteroid. It was then observed by telescopes in Italy, England, Arizona, California, and Australia and given the name 2007...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,spacerock,threatfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/550-lunar-telescopes--18747436https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18747436Fri, 23 Aug 2019 15:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerFrom the naked eye to the Hubble Space telescope each advance has enabled new astronomical discoveries. We have thus begun to understand our place in the Universe. Perhaps new discoveries will be made from the lunar surface having 1/6 of Earth's...121astronomy,earth,lunar,moon,nasa,radio,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/38e-50-asteroid-2014-jo25-what-an-incredible-ride--18747400https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18747400Tue, 20 Aug 2019 15:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerAs it approached the Earth's orbit , a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid literally came out of nowhere as it brightened 250 times in 15 days. On May 5, 2014, the NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, AZ detected it. It was...121asteroid,astronomy,dangerous,earth,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/549-weirdest-star--18747373https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18747373Fri, 16 Aug 2019 15:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently the Kepler Spacecraft found that a catalogue star HD 139139 now nicknamed the "Random Transiter" had 28 apparently random sharp narrow dips in brightness in only 87 days. What it is remains a mystery.121alien,aliens,astronomy,earth,nasa,planet,space,star,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/37e-49-earth-approaching-wannabees--18747321https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18747321Tue, 13 Aug 2019 15:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring a recent 6 night observing run with the NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, I found 29 Earth Approaching Asteroid candidates. With further observations, sixteen of these turned out to be real asteroids which in...121asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,earth,mars,nasa,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/548-dragonfly--18537680https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18537680Fri, 09 Aug 2019 15:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn our solar system the most exotic body which contains the complex organic molecules necessary for life is Saturn's Moon Titan. NASA's Dragonfly will explore this strange world with a flying drone. What it finds is likely to give us new insights into...121alien,astronomy,extraterrestrial,life,nasa,saturn,space,titanfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/36e-48-large-asteroids-still-appear-suddenly-without-warning--18537648https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18537648Tue, 06 Aug 2019 15:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid 2014 JO25 is truly an amazing object. It orbits the Sun, every 2.94 years, on a very elongated path that goes closer to the Sun than Mercury and then it travels out to well past Mars. It must be made of hard rocky material since during its...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,sun,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/547-impact-mars--18537638https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18537638Fri, 02 Aug 2019 15:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerA given piece of ground on Mars receives several times more space rock impacts than a similar sized area on Earth. Perhaps, in the future the Martian tourist industry will bring visitors to view super meteor storms which occur each year when Mars is...121impact,impactor,mars,meteor,meteorite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/35e-47-earth-approaching-space-rocks-collected-over-6-nights--18537585https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18537585Tue, 30 Jul 2019 15:00:23 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring a recent 6 night observing run with the NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, I found 29 Earth Approaching Asteroid candidates which were posted on the Minor Planet Center website. The largest of this collection of...121asteroidhunter,asteroids,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/546-snoopy--18537563https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18537563Fri, 26 Jul 2019 15:00:10 +0000Albert D. Grauer49 years after the Lunar Landing Module "Snoopy" was abandoned by Apollo 10 Astronauts, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls may have spotted it while searching for Earth approaching asteroids in the constellation of Cancer with our 60 inch...121apollo,astronauts,astronomy,landing,moon,moonlanding,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/34e-46-how-far-is-forever--18379748https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18379748Tue, 23 Jul 2019 15:00:18 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen you look out in space you are also looking back in time. Objects in space are older than they appear to us; the Moon more than a second , Mars a minute and a half, and the Great Galaxy in Andromeda appears as it was 3 million years ago. This...121astronomy,forever,hubble,nasa,night,sky,space,telescope,universefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/545-celestial-congestion--18379721https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18379721Fri, 19 Jul 2019 15:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerImagine being under a clear natural night sky, with no moon, waiting to see stars down to the horizon, the Milky Way, star clusters, planets, the zodiacal light, comets, and other wonders of the natural night sky. Suddenly, you are shocked to find...121astronomy,elonmusk,nasa,night,satellite,satellites,sky,space,spacexfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/33e-45-a-world-full-of-holes--18379606https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18379606Tue, 16 Jul 2019 15:00:19 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt may surprise you to know that there are more than 180 confirmed impact craters on our planet. It is likely that many more have been erased by the actions of wind and water. An asteroid smashing into a water rich world like Earth or Mars can...121asteroid,astronomy,crater,earth,impact,mars,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/544-missing--18379580https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18379580Fri, 12 Jul 2019 15:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerStatistically, asteroid hunters are thought to have discovered 90 to 95% of the Earth approaching asteroids larger than about 3,000 feet in diameter. There are thought to be at least 50 more out there. Where are they?121asteroid,astronomy,dengereous,earth,esa,gaia,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/32e-44-a-unique-metal-world-asteroid-psyche--18379483https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18379483Tue, 09 Jul 2019 15:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe asteroid Psyche is named for a Greek mythological figure. It was discovered in 1852 as a moving point of light in the night sky. This small world is about 155 miles in diameter and orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter every 5 years. A visit...121asteroid,astronomy,core,earth,metal,nasa,planet,space,worldfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/543-asteroid-zoo--18379438https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18379438Fri, 05 Jul 2019 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2018 Asteroid Hunters discovered 1839 previously unknown space rocks as they passed through our celestial neighborhood. The largest and most dangerous can come to a mere 1,000 miles from humanity. Fortunately, it is not likely to do so until after...121asteroid,asteroidhunters,astronomy,earth,impactors,moon,nasa,space,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/31e-43-first-earth-size-planet-in-habitable-zone--17864171https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17864171Tue, 02 Jul 2019 15:00:19 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Kepler Space Craft has found tiny regular dips in light from a star which is about 500 light years away in the constellation of Cygnus. The dips in brightness come about when planets pass between their star and the Earth. This particular star has...121alien,astronomy,distant,earth,earthlike,habital,nasa,planet,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/542-toughest-asteroid--17864109https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17864109Fri, 28 Jun 2019 15:00:21 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn asteroid has been discovered that comes very near to the Sun where it receives 12.6 times the radiation that heats the planet Mercury's surface to 800 F. This hardy space rock has made this trip many times and is likely to be made of extremely...121approaching,asteroid,asteroidmining,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,sun,toughfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/30e-42-astronauts-reveal-sobering-data-on-asteroid-impacts--17864040https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17864040Tue, 25 Jun 2019 15:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn Earth Day Astronauts Dr. Ed Lu, Tom Jones, and Bill Anders announced that between 2000 and 2013, the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization Network detected 26 explosions on Earth ranging in energy from 1-600 kilotons of TNT. None of them were...121asteroid,astronauts,dangerous,earth,impact,nasa,sentinel,space,spacecraftfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/541-most-dangerous-in-2018--17864012https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17864012Fri, 21 Jun 2019 15:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerFortunately, on its current path, the most dangerous asteroid discovered in 2018 cannot come closer than 12.5 times the Moon's distance to humanity. Not to worry. Asteroid Hunters have not found a single space rock on a collision path with planet Earth.121asteroid,astronomy,dangerous,earth,hazardous,impact,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/29e-41-navigating-the-night-sky--17863971https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17863971Tue, 18 Jun 2019 15:00:20 +0000Albert D. GrauerTo the human eye the night sky is a source of mystery and wonder. Our ancestors knew it well. There is a connection to the cosmos that is hard to describe which you will achieve by knowing the names of some of the bright stars. As the seasons...121campground,constellation,cosmic,nasa,observe,seasons,space,stars,viewfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/540-loneliest-asteroid--17863865https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17863865Fri, 14 Jun 2019 15:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerBeing a near Earth asteroid is already a lonely existence since the paths of these small space rocks seldom bring them near any other material objects as they travel about the Sun. The loneliest asteroids of all could be of interest to asteroid...121asteroid,astronomy,collision,esa,nasa,solarsystem,space,violentfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/28e-40-itokawa-a-strange-space-peanut--17863812https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17863812Tue, 11 Jun 2019 06:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe asteroid Itokawa [e toe kawa] is as odd as a barbell with a 29 lb weight on one end and and 18 lb weight on the other. It was discovered in 1998 as a moving point of light in the night sky by the LINEAR project in New Mexico. It was named for...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,itowaka,japan,space,spacecraftfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/539-close-approaches--17863769https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17863769Fri, 07 Jun 2019 06:00:23 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring a recent 30 day period, 11 small space rocks passed closer to us than the Moon. If one of them were to enter our atmosphere and you were directly under such an impact you would hear a loud noise as this tiny object exploded 40 to 60,000 feet...121approaching,asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,moon,nasa,neo,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/27e-39-dash-cams-and-the-anatomy-of-an-airburst--17704395https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17704395Tue, 04 Jun 2019 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerAleksei Dozorov, a motorist in Russia stated “You can get into your car without your pants on, but never get into a car without a dash cam,” . This attitude is caused by poor highway law enforcement. It is why many motorists around the Russian city...121asteroid,astronomy,chelyabinsk,earth,impact,nasa,russia,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/538-asteroid-slam--17704374https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17704374Fri, 31 May 2019 15:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerHumans are slamming projectiles into space rocks. These experiments will give us the know how to deal with a dangerous space rock which has our number on it.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,rocket,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/26e-38-the-big-ones--17704361https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17704361Tue, 28 May 2019 15:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerOne million human lifetimes ago an asteroid impact was at least partially responsible for eliminating the dinosaurs. This event has allowed our race to evolve to its present stateThose of us in the asteroid hunting community are also looking for the...121asteroid,dinosaur,earth,extinction,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/537-earth-glow--17704331https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17704331Fri, 24 May 2019 15:00:22 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 1972 Apollo 16 astronauts took an ultraviolet image of the Earth from the Moon which shows that like the Sun ,the Earth too, has a faint corona of gas surrounding it. Scientists are just beginning to explore how Earth's glow relates to our weather...121apollo,astronomy,climate,corona,earth,moon,nasa,space,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/25e-37-slow-movers-at-the-edge-of-our-solar-system--17704299https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17704299Tue, 21 May 2019 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerImagine a world that is so far from our Sun that it receives less than 1/5000 of the heat and light that makes our life possible. If your were standing on it, you could cover the Sun with the tip of a ball point pen held at arms length.121astronomy,cold,kuiper,nasa,planet,solarsystem,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/536-ultima-thule--17704285https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17704285Fri, 17 May 2019 15:00:22 +0000Albert D. GrauerTraveling an additional billion miles beyond Pluto, the New Horizons spacecraft is now sending back data on 2014 MU69, a strange snow man shaped object which orbits the Sun once every 298 years. The New Horizons is spacecraft is likely to continue its...121asteroids,astronomy,kuiper,nasa,planets,solarsystem,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/24e-36-earth-and-moon-as-evening-stars--17636181https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17636181Tue, 14 May 2019 15:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerA human with normal vision standing on Mars would see the Earth and our Moon as a double evening star. An observer on Mars would also see the distance between the Earth and Moon change as they revolve around a common center of gravity. Perhaps one day...121astronomy,colonist,earth,mars,martian,moon,nasa,space,spacexfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/535-alone-or-not--17636139https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17636139Fri, 10 May 2019 15:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn our Milky Way Galaxy alone there are probably 25 billion planets located within the habitable zone of its star where there could be air to breathe and liquid water on its surface. The search is on for advanced civilizations . The search is on for...121alien,astronomy,breakthrough,extraterrestrial,laser,nasa,space,spacesailfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/23e-35-an-asteroid-with-a-ring--17636120
Travelers in The Night
Programs

Contents

1 31-A Gentle Breakup Of An Asteroid
2 32-A Peanut Shaped Asteroid with a Moon
3 33-A Busy Month in the Earth's Neighborhood
4 34- Number 5000
5 35-An Asteroid With A Ring
6 36- Earth and Moon as Evening Stars
7 37-Slow Movers At The Edge of Our Solar System
8 38-The Big Ones
9 39-Dash Cams and the Anatomy of An Airburst
10 40-Itokawa A Strange Space Peanut
11 41-Navigating The Night Sky
12 42-Astronauts Reveal Sobering Data On Asteroid Impacts
13 43-First Earth-Size Planet in 'Habitable Zone'
14 44-A Unique Metal World; Asteroid Psyche
15 45-A World Full of Holes
16 46-How Far Is Forever
17 47-Earth Approaching Space Rocks Collected Over 6 Nights
18 48-Large Dangerous Asteroids Still Appear Suddenly Without Warning
19 49-Earth Approaching Wannabees
20 50-Asteroid 2014 JO25: What An Incredible Ride
21 51-Asteroid 2007 VK184 - Eliminated As An Impact Risk to Earth
22 52- Another Large Bright Suddenly Appearing Asteroid
23 53- Where Is Juno
24 54- Tour a Neighbor World
25 55-RADAR Telescopes Pair Up to Image Near-Earth Asteroid
26 56-A Whopper or A Comet
27 57-Hold A Traveler In The Night In Your Hand
28 58-NASA Hunts for A Special Asteroid
29 59-Spotting Travelers In The Night
30 60-A Close Visit With A Message


31-A Gentle Breakup Of An Asteroid
Click to Listen

Published PRX April 3, 2014
Recorded March 21, 2014
remixed July 15, 2014


Newton formulated that the change in motion for an object depends on the amount of force and the length of time it is applied. For this reason a baseball pitcher tries to have a long pull on the ball before releasing it.

Astronomers have a theory, called the Yorp effect, that light from the Sun produces a very tiny torque which increases the rate of spin of an object. The effect is so small that it would take billions of years to be produce a measurable outcome. How can such an idea ever be tested?

In September of 2013, the Pan-STARRS group found a strange moving object in the night sky. The plot thickened when the Keck Telescope on Mauna Kea Hawaii found that instead of being a single body it appeared to be three small objects embedded in a cloud of gas and dust several thousands of miles in diameter. The Hubble Space Telescope was used to see what is going on.

Hubble found that this object changes significantly over a period of months, that it has 6 tails, and that pieces of it continue to emerge from the center and slowly move away at a walking pace.

An asteroid collision is too violent to cause what is seen. The object is too cold for expanding gases to cause it to break up. The best explanation which fits the data is that Sun light has slowly, over billions of years, increased P/2013 P5's rate of spin causing it to gently come apart. Some of the dust and small particles which escape from it will orbit the Sun. When the Earth runs into them we may see them as meteors in our night sky.

For Travelers in the Night this is Dr. Al Grauer.

Go to travelersinthenight.org for more information.

© 2014 A. D. Grauer and ℗ 2014 A. D. Grauer



More Information On The Break Up Of An Asteroid

32-A Peanut Shaped Asteroid with a Moon
Click to Listen

Published PRX April 3, 2014
Recorded March 29, 2014
remixed July 15, 2014

It appears that Hektor and its moon were created by a collision between two icy asteroids early in the 4.5 billion year history of our solar system when things were more chaotic. They happened to land in a gravitational dip which has allowed them to remain relatively undisturbed for billions of years.

The asteroid Hektor orbits the Sun at a point where the gravity of the Sun and Jupiter create a stable point 60 degrees in front of the giant planet. In 1907 Hector was discovered as a moving point of light in the night sky. For the next 99 years its true nature remained unknown. In the past few years the Keck Telescope in Hawaii has discovered that the main body is a 230 mile long peanut shaped object. Most recently Keck was used to discover that Hektor has a 7.5 mile diameter moon which has a dense core surrounded by icy layers. This asteroid moon orbits the peanut shaped Hektor in a stable orbit every 3 hours.

Recently, NASA scientists using the Goldstone Radar telescope were taking advantage of a close approach of a potentially hazardous asteroid to obtain radar images. These data show 2006 DP14 is a peanut shaped object about 1300 feet long. It slowly spins with a 6 hour period. Previous data from Goldstone and the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico suggests that more than 10 % of near Earth asteroids larger than 650 feet in diameter have a peanut shape. This knowledge will be important if we find one of these strange objects is on a collision course with our planet.


For Travelers in the Night this is Dr. Al Grauer.

Go to travelersinthenight.org for more information.

© 2014 A. D. Grauer and ℗ 2014 A. D. Grauer

More Information on This Program


33-A Busy Month in the Earth's Neighborhood
Click to Listen

Published PRX April 10, 2014
Recorded April 10, 2014
remixed July 15, 2014

For us who look for Earth approaching objects, March of 2014 was a busy month. Six asteroids which pass closer than our Moon were discovered and tracked. The smallest of them is the size of an SUV and the largest would fill an NBA basketball court. Fortunately none of them were on a collision course with Planet Earth.

Interest in smaller space rocks has increased since a semitrailer truck sized asteroid entered the Earth's atmosphere over Russia in February of 2013. Most of the nearly 1500 injuries could have been avoided if people in the impact area had been warned to stay away from windows.

In January of 2014 a refrigerator sized asteroid was discovered about 20 hours before it exploded over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. It is estimated that there are a billion near Earth Asteroids of similar size.

It is likely that we have discovered 90% of the approximately one thousand near Earth asteroids whose impact would cause global climate change. There are probably 300,000 smaller Earth approaching asteroids whose impact would devastate thousands of square miles of the Earth's surface. So far we have discovered about 5,000 of them. There are many millions of space rocks which could cause window breaking sonic booms. Happily we have not discovered any of these objects which will impact the Earth any time soon.

An Asteroid impact is a natural disaster whose effect we have the ability to minimize . The NASA Near Earth Object Program's goal is provide the early detection essential to mitigate such an event.

For Travelers in the Night this is Dr. Al Grauer.

Go to travelersinthenight.org for more information.
© 2014 A. D. Grauer and ℗ 2014 A. D. Grauer

More On Asteroid Close Approaches to Earth
34- Number 5000
Click to Listen

Published PRX April 10, 2014
Recorded April 10, 2014
remixed July 15, 2014


The 5000th Earth approaching asteroid discovered by the University of Arizona's NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey was found early in 2014. It is approximately 3 times the size of the one which injured 1491 people in Russia in February of 2013. It was discovered by my teammate Jess Johnson. Happily, its closest approach to Earth is slightly farther than our moon.

The other 4999 asteroids discovered since 2003 consist of:
> 141 that are large enough to cause global climate change,
> 1892 that are large enough to
devastate thousands of square miles of the Earth's Surface, and
> 2966 that upon entering our atmosphere would create
window shattering sonic booms.

Fortunately none of these objects will impact the Earth anytime soon.

Our team operates two telescopes, 24 nights per month in the Catalina Mountains near Tucson, Arizona. This effort has discovered 47% of the near Earth Asteroids known to exist. We are part of the NASA near Earth Object Program who goal is to provide the early warning time which is essential to mitigate the effects of an asteroid impact.

Fortunately large asteroids which impact the Earth are extremely rare. Small asteroids are the most numerous and thus mostly likely to present a problem. In the future we hope to have the equipment in place to obtain a heads up if a small asteroid is likely to be an impactor. Then people that are in a potentially effected area will be warned to seek shelter in a manner similar to a tornado warning.

For Travelers in the Night this is Dr. Al Grauer.

Go to travelersinthenight.org for more information.

© 2014 A. D. Grauer and ℗ 2014 A. D. Grauer


More on the 5000th Asteroid

35-An Asteroid With A Ring

Click to Listen

Published PRX April 18, 2014
Recorded April 12, 2014
remixed July 15, 2014

Saturn had a strange appearance in Galileo's telescope. At first he described it as being a composite of three objects. A few years later, better telescopes showed a beautiful ring system surrounding Saturn. For more than 350 years Saturn was the only known planet with rings. Now we are aware that Uranus, Jupiter, and Neptune also have ring systems.


Chariklo (“KAReekloe”) is an asteroid which orbits the Sun between Saturn and Uranus every 63 years. It was discovered in 1997 by James Scotti an astronomer with Spacewatch on Kitt Peak in Arizona.Chariklo (“KAReekloe”) is the first asteroid to show a ring system. Perhaps there are others.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17636120Tue, 07 May 2019 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerPrograms 31-60 Travelers in The Night Programs Contents 1 31-A Gentle Breakup Of An Asteroid 2 32-A Peanut Shaped Asteroid with a Moon 3 33-A Busy Month in the Earth's Neighborhood 4 34- Number 5000 5 35-An Asteroid...
Travelers in The Night
Programs

Contents

1 31-A Gentle Breakup Of An Asteroid
2 32-A Peanut Shaped Asteroid with a Moon
3 33-A Busy Month in the Earth's Neighborhood
4 34- Number 5000
5 35-An Asteroid With A Ring
6 36- Earth and Moon as Evening Stars
7 37-Slow Movers At The Edge of Our Solar System
8 38-The Big Ones
9 39-Dash Cams and the Anatomy of An Airburst
10 40-Itokawa A Strange Space Peanut
11 41-Navigating The Night Sky
12 42-Astronauts Reveal Sobering Data On Asteroid Impacts
13 43-First Earth-Size Planet in 'Habitable Zone'
14 44-A Unique Metal World; Asteroid Psyche
15 45-A World Full of Holes
16 46-How Far Is Forever
17 47-Earth Approaching Space Rocks Collected Over 6 Nights
18 48-Large Dangerous Asteroids Still Appear Suddenly Without Warning
19 49-Earth Approaching Wannabees
20 50-Asteroid 2014 JO25: What An Incredible Ride
21 51-Asteroid 2007 VK184 - Eliminated As An Impact Risk to Earth
22 52- Another Large Bright Suddenly Appearing Asteroid
23 53- Where Is Juno
24 54- Tour a Neighbor World
25 55-RADAR Telescopes Pair Up to Image Near-Earth Asteroid
26 56-A Whopper or A Comet
27 57-Hold A Traveler In The Night In Your Hand
28 58-NASA Hunts for A Special Asteroid
29 59-Spotting Travelers In The Night
30 60-A Close Visit With A Message


31-A Gentle Breakup Of An Asteroid
Click to Listen

Published PRX April 3, 2014
Recorded March 21, 2014
remixed July 15, 2014


Newton formulated that the change in motion for an object depends on the amount of force and the length of time it is applied. For this reason a baseball pitcher tries to have a long pull on the ball before releasing it.

Astronomers have a theory, called the Yorp effect, that light from the Sun produces a very tiny torque which increases the rate of spin of an object. The effect is so small that it would take billions of years to be produce a measurable outcome. How can such an idea ever be tested?

In September of 2013, the Pan-STARRS group found a strange moving object in the night sky. The plot thickened when the Keck Telescope on Mauna Kea Hawaii found that instead of being a single body it appeared to be three small objects embedded in a cloud of gas and dust several thousands of miles in diameter. The Hubble Space Telescope was used to see what is going on.

Hubble found that this object changes significantly over a period of months, that it has 6 tails, and that pieces of it continue to emerge from the center and slowly move away at a walking pace.

An asteroid collision is too violent to cause what is seen. The object is too cold for expanding gases to cause it to break up. The best explanation which fits the data is that Sun light has slowly, over billions of years, increased P/2013 P5's rate of spin causing it to gently come apart. Some of the dust and small particles which escape from it will orbit the Sun. When the Earth runs into them we may see them as meteors in our night sky.

For Travelers in the Night this is Dr. Al Grauer.

Go to travelersinthenight.org for more information.

© 2014 A. D. Grauer and ℗ 2014 A. D. Grauer



More Information On The Break Up Of An Asteroid

32-A Peanut Shaped Asteroid with a Moon
Click to Listen

Published PRX April 3, 2014
Recorded March 29, 2014
remixed July 15, 2014

It appears that Hektor and its moon were created by a collision between two icy asteroids early in the 4.5 billion year history of our solar system when things were more chaotic. They happened to land in a gravitational dip which has...]]>121asteroid,astronomy,nasa,rings,saturn,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/534-followups--17636111https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17636111Fri, 03 May 2019 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerWithout followup data, many if not most of the Earth approaching objects would be lost as they move away from us leaving us with no idea when they might return to near Earth space or perhaps even strike our home planet.121asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,dangerous,earth,nasa,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/22e-34-number-5000--17636092https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17636092Tue, 30 Apr 2019 15:00:18 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe 5000th Earth approaching asteroid discovered by the University of Arizona's NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey is approximately 3 times the size of the one which injured 1491 people in Russia in February of 2013. It was discovered by my teammate...121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,chelyabinsk,earth,impactor,nasa,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/533-100-moons--17636041https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17636041Fri, 26 Apr 2019 15:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerA small telescope makes a substantial contribution to our knowledge of the celestial visitors to our neighborhood.121asteroidhunting,asteroids,astronomy,earth,nasa,space,telescopesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/21e-33-a-busy-month-in-the-earth-s-neighborhood--17225458https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17225458Tue, 23 Apr 2019 15:00:23 +0000Albert D. GrauerFor us who look for Earth approaching objects, March of 2014 was a busy month. Six asteroids which pass closer than our Moon were discovered and tracked. The smallest of them is the size of an SUV and the largest would fill an NBA basketball court....121asteroid,astronomy,impactor,meteor,moon,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/532-teddy-s-debut--17225395https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17225395Fri, 19 Apr 2019 15:00:23 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn a recent training night with Teddy Pruyne at the controls of our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona, this duo discovered six new Earth Approaching Objects, an inner main belt asteroid, and rediscovered an inner main belt asteroid which had...121asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,hunting,nasa,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/20e-32-a-peanut-shaped-asteroid-with-a-moon--17225369https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17225369Tue, 16 Apr 2019 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt appears that Hektor and its moon were created by a collision between two icy asteroids early in the 4.5 billion year history of our solar system when things were more chaotic. They happened to land in a gravitational dip which has allowed them to...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,moon,moons,nasa,space,weirdfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/531-alex-s-catch--17225344https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17225344Fri, 12 Apr 2019 15:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn a cold windy night, with clouds frustrating his search, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Alex Gibbs discovered 8 new celestial visitors while observing with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona.121asteroid,astronomy,meteor,meteroites,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/19e-31-a-gentle-breakup-of-an-asteroid--17225291https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17225291Tue, 09 Apr 2019 15:00:20 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn asteroid spins up and comes apart. When the Earth runs into its trail we will be treated to a meteor shower.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,meteor,meteorshower,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/530-cuban-meteorites--17225254https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17225254Fri, 05 Apr 2019 15:00:21 +0000Albert D. GrauerA large fireball meteor which exploded over Cuba produced a number of interesting results.121astronomy,fireball,meteor,meteroite,nasa,space,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/18e-30-asteroids-on-an-inside-track--17053040https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17053040Tue, 02 Apr 2019 15:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerOnly 13 out of the more than 10,000 Earth approaching objects have their orbit completely within that of the Earth.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,atira,earth,nasa,nearearth,neo,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/529-africano-4--17052998https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17052998Fri, 29 Mar 2019 15:00:11 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey Teammate Brian Africano discovered his 4th comet while asteroid hunting in the constellation of Ursa Major with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona. Observers with small telescopes equipped with electronic cameras are...121astronomy,comet,discovery,earth,nasa,pluto,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/17e-28-finding-an-asteroid-for-astronauts--17052964https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17052964Tue, 26 Mar 2019 15:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerA prelude of a manned flyby of Venus and Mars could be a manned mission to an asteroid. The search for an appropriate asteroid continues.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,mars,nasa,orion,space,spacemissionfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/528-asteroid-billiards--17052896https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17052896Fri, 22 Mar 2019 15:30:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerNASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test or DART for short will test methods to make a dangerous asteroid miss Earth.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,dart,earth,esa,hera,impact,nasafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/16e-27-a-lucky-friday-the-13th--17052862https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17052862Tue, 19 Mar 2019 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerFriday the 13th of 2029 will be a lucky day for the Human race when the asteroid passes very near the Earth.121asteroid,astronomy,extinction,impact,nasa,space,tunguskafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/527-comet-groeller--17052820https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17052820Fri, 15 Mar 2019 15:00:18 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Hannes Groeller was asteroid hunting with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona when he discovered his first comet. After the Sun bakes out all of the frozen gasses, Hannes's Comet, will lose its coma and tail...121asteroid,comet,discovery,earth,jupiter,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/15e-26-binary-asteroids--17052764https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17052764Tue, 12 Mar 2019 15:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerApproximately 1 out of 5 large Near-Earth Asteroids are really double or triple systems of objects orbiting a common center of gravity. Such double trouble objects presents a challenge if one of them were found to be heading for Earth.121asteroid,astronomy,binary,double,earth,nasa,radar,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/526-tiny-visitor--17052728https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17052728Thu, 07 Mar 2019 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerA tiny space rock passes through the cloud of communications satellites surrounding the Earth.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,meteor,meteorites,nasa,near,nearearth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/14e-25-fireballs--17052663https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17052663Tue, 05 Mar 2019 16:00:20 +0000Albert D. GrauerOccasionally one observes a meteor brighter than the Planet Venus which is called a fireball. Some of them can be bright enough to be seen in the day time.Every year, several thousand fireballs are logged by the American Meteor Society. If you see one...121astronomy,fireball,impact,meteor,meteorite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/525-collision--17052616https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17052616Fri, 01 Mar 2019 16:00:18 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe object which the 2.3 mile diameter Gault hit is likely to have been a third of a mile diameter space rock. This celestial crash left Gault with a 250,000 long straight tail.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,collision,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/13e-24-jupiter-friend-or-foe--17052521https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17052521Tue, 26 Feb 2019 16:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Earth is our home. It provides us with air, food, and water. The Sun powers all life. The role of Jupiter is less clear. Jupiter puts some objects on a collision course with our planet but not so frequently enough to prevent life on Earth from...121asteroid,astronomy,climatechange,extinction,impact,jupiter,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/12e-22-asteroid-2013-tv-135--16674394https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16674394Fri, 22 Feb 2019 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid 2013 TV135 is a potentially hazardous asteroid which at first appeared to be on a collision course with planet Earth. Subsequent observations refined its orbit and reduced its chances of striking us.121asteroid,astronomy,dangereous,hazardous,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/524-home-wrecker--16674332https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16674332Tue, 19 Feb 2019 16:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe extremely remote chance that a dangerous mountain sized space rock has our number on it is what keeps my team going to our four telescopes in the Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, Arizona.121asteroid,astronomy,change,climate,climatechange,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/11e-20-a-serendipitous-supernova-in-m82--16674312https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16674312Fri, 15 Feb 2019 16:00:18 +0000Albert D. GrauerMany stars, galaxies, and other objects seem to be the same year after year giving us the idea that things are static out there. Every once in a while a new object bursts into view producing a, WOW, "what is that" feeling.121astronomy,discovery,nasa,space,students,supernova,wowfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/523-one-thousand--16674276https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16674276Tue, 12 Feb 2019 16:00:23 +0000Albert D. GrauerFor the first time in history, an asteroid hunting team, the Catalina Sky Survey, has discovered more than 1,000 Earth approaching asteroids in a single year. They are an interesting part of our environment.121approaching,asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,earth,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/10e-19-an-asteroid-with-a-comet-orbit-2013jd4--16674197https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16674197Fri, 08 Feb 2019 16:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Centaur type asteroid, 2013 JD4, is an interesting object. It takes 41.5 years to orbit the Sun on a path that takes it as close to Earth as we are to the Sun.When its orbit is changed as it passes Jupiter and Saturn it may start making closer...121asteroid,centaur,chiron,comet,esa,eso,nasafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/522-comets-africano--16674154https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16674154Tue, 05 Feb 2019 16:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring Comet C/2018 V4 Africano's last visit to the inner solar system humans were erecting the outer ring at Stonehenge. At the rate human's are changing the Earth's climate who can guess what will be happening on Earth when this comet returns in...121astronomy,climate,comet,discovery,earth,nasa,space,stonehengefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/9e-18-the-first-pre-impact-discovery-2008tc3--16455320https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16455320Fri, 01 Feb 2019 16:00:24 +0000Albert D. Grauer2008 TC3 is the first of the two of small asteroids which astronomers have been able to find and track into our atmosphere. Samples of these impacting asteroids provide new insights into our solar system.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impactor,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/521-lunar-space-rock--16455268https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16455268Tue, 29 Jan 2019 16:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Hannes Growler discovered an Earth approaching asteroid which has a speed consistent with it being ejected from the Moon by the impact of an asteroid or comet long ago. 69 hours after Hannes discovered it,...121astronomy,lunar,meteorite,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/8e-17-2013-us10-from-asteroid-to-comet-to-deep-space--16455151https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16455151Fri, 25 Jan 2019 16:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn object is discovered that first appeared to be a huge near Earth asteroid. Subsequent observations show it to be a comet making a single trip through our solar system.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,interstellar,nasa,space,stars,travelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/520-comet-lemmon--16455086https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16455086Tue, 22 Jan 2019 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn interstellar traveler visits our neighborhood on its tour of the Milky Way.121astronomy,comet,earth,interstellar,nasa,space,traveler,visitorfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/7e-16-the-discovery-of-comet-p-2014-a2-hill--16447964https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16447964Fri, 18 Jan 2019 16:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerHave you ever wondered how a comet is discovered and named?121astronomy,comet,discover,earth,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/519-greg-s-comet--16447910https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16447910Tue, 15 Jan 2019 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe discovery of a Jupiter family comet whose fate is to become a garden variety main belt asteroid.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,jupiter,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/6e-15-suppose-an-asteroid-is-on-a-collision-course-with-earth--16374623https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16374623Fri, 11 Jan 2019 16:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerOver geologic times, the impacts of objects from space have produced significant changes to our planet's biosphere. Earth threatening asteroids present a complicated challenge due to the wide range of compositions, sizes, orbital paths, and warning...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,mitigation,nasa,nuclear,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/518-busy-night--16374586https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16374586Tue, 08 Jan 2019 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn Halloween night while observing with the Catalina Sky Survey's 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona I discovered 21 space rocks streaking through the night sky. The most interesting one could be the destination of asteroid miners.121asteroid,asteroidhunting,astronomy,colonies,impactor,mining,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/5e-13-the-tunguska-event--16374002https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16374002Fri, 04 Jan 2019 16:00:13 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Tunguska [ Tun·gu·ska] event occurred on June 30, 1908. It appears to have been caused by a small asteroid or comet which exploded 3-6 miles above the Earth's surface. It is the largest impact event in recorded history.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,impact,nasa,space,tunguskafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/517-close-again--16373895https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16373895Tue, 01 Jan 2019 16:00:23 +0000Albert D. GrauerAs asteroid hunters equipment and skills continue to improve we will be able to find and track some of these tiny impactors and perhaps be able to suggest where to find pieces of one of them on the ground.121asteroid,astronomy,meteor,meteroite,nasa,space,spacerock,texasfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/4e-8-a-bad-day-for-the-dinosaurs--16373857https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16373857Fri, 28 Dec 2018 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerScientific evidence suggests that it was a bad day for non-avian dinosaurs when a large asteroid or a comet crashed into the Earth about 66 million years ago. Some species, including mammals, flourished under the changed conditions after the Chicxulub...121asteroid,astronomy,dinosaur,extinction,impactor,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/516-space-weather--16373799https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16373799Tue, 25 Dec 2018 16:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerSpace is not all that far away. If a powerful solar eruption in 2012 had happened a week earlier, the blast of radiation would have caused wide spread power blackouts disabling everything that plugs into a wall socket as well as the water and sewer...121astronomy,geomagnetic,nasa,solarflare,solarwind,space,storm,sun,weatherfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/3e-3-finding-earth-approaching-objects--16373703https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16373703Fri, 21 Dec 2018 16:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerUsing 2 telescopes near Tucson Arizona, the NASA funded, Catalina Sky Survey searches for Earth Approaching Objects. The method is to take 4 images of the same part of the sky spaced out over 45 minutes. These images are searched with computer...121asteroid,asteroidhunters,astronomy,earth,impactor,nasa,space,spacerocks,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/515-dust-moons--16373670https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16373670Tue, 18 Dec 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe discovery of two large ghostly neighbors approximately 65,000 by 45,000 miles in size at the L4 and L5 sites approximately 250,000 miles from both the Earth and Moon.121astronomy,colonies,dust,l4,l5,moons,nasa,neighbors,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/2e-voyager-i-s-baby-step--16373612https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16373612Fri, 14 Dec 2018 16:10:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerLooking into the sky on a clear-dark night, have you wondered what it would be like to travel in deep space?121astronomy,distant,interstellar,jpl,nasa,space,voyagerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/514-close-space-rocks--16136574https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16136574Tue, 11 Dec 2018 16:00:20 +0000Albert D. GrauerSince 1900 there have been 11 close approaches by asteroids larger than 300 feet in diameter. One of them, the Tunguska Object was about 400 feet in diameter. It entered the Earth's atmosphere and exploded with such force that it blew down trees over...121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,close,impactor,nasa,space,tunguskafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/513-mtn-ops--16136564https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16136564Fri, 07 Dec 2018 16:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy team, the Catalina Sky Survey, would not find a single asteroid without Steward Observatory's Mountain Lemmon Operations, or Mtn Ops for short. Bottom line is that Mtn Ops does whatever it takes to make our Asteroid Hunting facilities continue to...121asteroid,astronomy,hunting,mountain,nasa,observatory,operations,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/512-aten--16136552https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16136552Tue, 04 Dec 2018 16:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerAten Asteroids are stealthy space rocks which can be dim and hard to detect since for most of their path about the Sun their illuminated side is facing away from us.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,aten,earth,impactor,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/e1-russian-fireball-february-15-2013--16293514https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16293514Fri, 30 Nov 2018 16:00:25 +0000Albert D. GrauerHave you wondered what would happen if a rock from space landed near one of our large cities? We got a clue on February 15, 2013 when a large fireball appeared in the sky over Russia.121astronomy,chelyabinsk,explosion,fireball,impact,impactor,meteor,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/510-fourth-closest--16079104https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16079104Tue, 27 Nov 2018 16:00:19 +0000Albert D. GrauerTen hours and 46 minutes after my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard discovered a Toyota RAV4 sized space rock, now named 2018 UA, streaking through the constellation of Pegasus at 8.8 miles/second, this tiny asteroid passed less than 1/2 the...121approach,astronomy,close,communications,miss,nasa,satellites,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/509-close--16079074https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16079074Fri, 23 Nov 2018 16:00:18 +0000Albert D. GrauerUntil recently the discovery of very close approaching asteroids was rare, however, due to improvements in telescopes, cameras, and computers asteroid hunters are now finding a significant number of these small celestial visitors to our neighborhood...121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/508-quiet-sun--16079064https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16079064Tue, 20 Nov 2018 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerDon't count on the decrease in solar activity to save you from human produced global warming, however something potentially important to you is happening on the Sun.121global,iceage,maunderminimum,nasa,solarcycle,sun,warmingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/507-eric-s-night--16079050https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16079050Fri, 16 Nov 2018 16:00:20 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Pegasus with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona when he discovered a 2,000 foot diameter space rock streaking through the night sky. The...121asteroid,astronomy,close,earth,impactor,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/506-large-pha--16079032https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16079032Tue, 13 Nov 2018 16:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski was asteroid hunting in the constellation of Pegasus with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona when he discovered a 2,000 foot diameter space rock streaking through the night sky. The...121asteroid,astronomy,close,impact,impactor,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/505-what-a-night--16079014https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16079014Fri, 09 Nov 2018 16:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerTo give you an idea of the celestial traffic in our neighborhood, on a recent clear night, using our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Hannes Groller posted 20 new objects on the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth...121asteroid,astronomy,colonists,mars,nasa,neighborhood,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/504-vulcan--15939346https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15939346Tue, 06 Nov 2018 16:00:16 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the fictional Star Trek series, Vulcan, Spock's home planet was imagined to orbit the A component of the triple star system 40 Eridani [Eri-dani ]. Recently astronomers using the Dharma Planet Survey 50 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona have...12140eridania,alien,habitable,hd26965,planet,planets,spock,star,startrek,trekfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/503-fuls-iii--15939298https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15939298Fri, 02 Nov 2018 15:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls discovered his third comet, Comet C/2018 R4 (Fuls). It is now on its way back into deep space. Given the climate change Earth is experiencing it is hard to predict the state of our planet and...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,comets,discovery,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/502-pair-of-phas--15895783https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15895783Tue, 30 Oct 2018 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid Hunters keep careful track of nearly 2,000 Potentially Hazardous Asteroids [PHAs] to make sure that they are no threat to humanity. The recent discovery of two new PHAs reminds us that there are many still out there to be discovered and followed.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,hazardous,impact,nasa,potentially,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/501-carson-s-night--15895764https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15895764Fri, 26 Oct 2018 15:00:20 +0000Albert D. GrauerA small space rock is spotted 4 days before it came very close to the Earth and our Moon.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,close,comet,earth,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/500-why-look--15759640https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15759640Tue, 23 Oct 2018 15:00:47 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhat asteroid hunters fear is that a small space rock capable of injuring people and damaging buildings is heading our way and that we will not find it in time to give a warning for people in the impact area to seek cover.121astronomy,chelyabinsk,collision,fireball,impact,impactor,meteor,meteroites,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/499-oppy--15759580https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15759580Fri, 19 Oct 2018 15:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe NASA Mars Opportunity Rover, nicked named Oppy by those who operate and love it ,was designed to last 90 days on the Martian surface but has continued to explore the surface of the red planet for 14 years.121astronomy,explore,mars,opportunity,oppy,rover,science,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/498-tiny-travelers--15759566https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15759566Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:00:31 +0000Albert D. GrauerAlthough small space rocks pose no threat to humans, they are an interesting part of our environment, offer a chance for asteroid hunters to develop their tracking skills, and occasionally provide an opportunity for a meteorite hunter to touch an...121asteroid,astronomy,meteor,meteorite,meteoroid,space,spacerockfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/497-first-one--15759556https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15759556Fri, 12 Oct 2018 15:00:35 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid hunters were able to discover a small Earth approaching asteroid after 57 nights of continuous rain and clouds.121asteroid,astronomy,fireball,impactor,meteor,meteorite,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/496-boomer--15642264https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15642264Tue, 09 Oct 2018 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe fireball meteor streaking across the sky the early evening of January 17, 2018, witnessed by 700 observers in 11 States and Canada was also recorded by infrasonic microphones and seismometers. Scientific studies of this event gives researchers...121astronomy,bolide,fall,impact,meteor,meteroite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/495-catching-asteroids--15642248https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15642248Fri, 05 Oct 2018 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt might be possible to catch an asteroid, place it into Earth orbit, and thus provide a ready source of precious metals and water for space colonists to use.121asteroid,astronauts,astronomy,colonists,earth,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/494-guard-down--15642234https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15642234Tue, 02 Oct 2018 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2018, July and August were cloudy and rainy in both Arizona and Hawaii sidelining the worlds two most productive asteroid hunting surveys. A cost effective way to make the Earth's planetary defense system more weather proof is to put a network of...121asteroid,astronomy,dangerous,earth,nasa,nearearth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/493-ringed-dynamo--15642032https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15642032Fri, 28 Sep 2018 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerEven though humans have been aware of the planet Saturn from from the dawn of history this beautiful object still offers mysteries for us to explore.121astronomy,casinni,nasa,planets,saturn,space,spacecraftfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/492-not-human--15567014https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15567014Tue, 25 Sep 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerFrom the time 3 million years ago that our ancestor Lucy walked in what is now Ethiopia until the widespread use of electric lighting began in the 1880s the changing panorama and awe inspiring beauty of the natural night sky was available to most...121astronomy,darksky,milkyway,nasa,nightsky,space,viewfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/491-one-half-inch--15566999https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15566999Fri, 21 Sep 2018 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerFuzzy, spread out, asteroid images due to atmospheric and or equipment produced distortions can cause important objects to slip through an asteroid hunter's discovery images undetected. A careful monitoring of the temperature at a number of different...121asteroids,astronomy,heat,images,nasa,seeing,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/490-mini-moons--15566987https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15566987Tue, 18 Sep 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerThere are likely to be hundreds smaller than softball sized and perhaps several dozen football to beachball sized, natural Earth mini moons, which are so small and fast moving that they are able to slip through asteroid hunters images without being...121asteroids,astronauts,astronomy,explore,moon,nasa,nearearth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/489-martian-water--15566961https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15566961Fri, 14 Sep 2018 15:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerExciting new research indicates that there could be a lake of liquid water beneath the south Martian polar cap. Further research will be required to determine if this briny pool could be the home of martian creatures.121alien,astronomy,esa,life,mars,nasa,space,waterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/488-20-years--15354032https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15354032Tue, 11 Sep 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt has been 20 years since the world woke up to the news that a half mile diameter asteroid, 1997 XF11, discovered by Space Watch on Kitt Peak, had a slight chance of impacting the Earth in 2028. The NASA and JPL's Center for Near Earth Object...121asteroid,astronomy,cneos,impact,nasa,scout,sentry,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/487-touching-the-sun--15354021https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15354021Fri, 07 Sep 2018 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerImagine a spacecraft traveling at a speed that would take it from New York to Tokyo in less than a minute, a mere 4 million miles from the surface of our Sun, where it would be exposed to about 500 times the solar radiation we receive here on Earth....121astronomy,close,fast,nasa,parker,space,sunfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/486-martian-storms--15353993https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15353993Tue, 04 Sep 2018 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn a few weeks ,as Earth and Mars moved closer together, a dust storm engulfed most of the red planet making it impossible to see its surface features.121astronomy,curiosity,dust,mars,maven,nasa,opportunity,rover,space,stormfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/485-last-one--15353983https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15353983Fri, 31 Aug 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerA huge Earth approaching asteroid is discovered right before the 2018 monsoon rains settled into the American Southwest. This weather imposed break from observing provides the opportunity for asteroid hunters to make major equipment upgrades and...121asteroid,astronomy,huge,monsoons,nasa,southwest,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/484-aliens--15334318https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15334318Mon, 27 Aug 2018 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerMost Astronomers find it hard to believe that given perhaps a trillion planets in the Milky Way alone that our Earth is the only one which hosts living organisms. It is both exciting and terrifying to realize we have no concept of what living forms...121aliens,astronomy,earth,flying saucers,life,milkyway,space,ufofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/483-double-trouble--15334288https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15334288Fri, 24 Aug 2018 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid hunters have discovered a strange asteroid pair. How they came to be together and what humans would do if such a large double trouble object is heading for us remains a mystery.121asteroids,astronomy,earth,large,nasa,near,radar,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/482-botswana-fragment--15334274https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15334274Tue, 21 Aug 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn object is tracked in outer space, seen to explode in our atmosphere, and had a fragment of it discovered on the ground. Its analysis will help humans to prepare for and defend against a much larger object with our number on it.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,fireball,impactor,meteor,meteorite,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/481-fireball--15334256https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15334256Fri, 17 Aug 2018 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn July 8, 2018 a beautiful fireball Meteor was seen streaking across the sky in evening twilight. So far the American Meteor Society has received more than 700 reports of this event , from observers in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Kansas,...121americanmeteorsociety,astronomy,fireball,meteor,meteorite,sightings,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/480-large-visitor--15238797https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15238797Tue, 14 Aug 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerStatistically, asteroid hunters are thought to have discovered 90% of our potentially dangerous celestial neighbors greater than 1 KM in diameter. Thus my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard was surprised to discover an unknown very large...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,dangerous,impactor,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/479-comet-catalina--15238789https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15238789Fri, 10 Aug 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerComet C/2018 M1 (Catalina) is eternal in the sense that it will likely wander the vast space between the stars in our Milky Way Galaxy until the end of time.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,eternal,nasa,parabolic,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/478-comet-leonard-iii--15238774https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15238774Tue, 07 Aug 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard knew he had bagged his third comet when he spotted an unknown fuzzy object with a broad tail moving through the constellation of Pieces. Eventually when it looses it's volatile materials Comet Leonard...121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,comet,mainbelt,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/477-hannes-discoveries--15238766https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15238766Fri, 03 Aug 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecently, my newest Catalina Sky Survey Teammate, Hannes Groeller, had an excellent training night, working with Greg Leonard, on our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona posting 14 new objects on the Near Earth Object Confirmation Page. One of...121asteroidmining,asteroids,astronomy,mars,mining,moon,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/476-lost-comet--15183434https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15183434Tue, 31 Jul 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn July 1, 1770 Comet Lexell passed about 6 times the moon's distance from planet Earth, the closest a comet has ever come to humanity. After that it completely disappeared . After more than 200 years of searching, researchers have identified what may...121astronomy,comet,earth,lexell,lost,messier,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/475-lonely-fragment--15183405https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15183405Fri, 27 Jul 2018 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerA 2000 foot diameter space rock has stories to tell about violent events long ago. Asteroid hunters are eager to track this huge collision fragment and look for members of it's family as it passes near Earth in 2026.121asteroid,astronomy,collision,earth,nasa,space,violentfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/474-earth-venus-shuttle--15117984https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15117984Tue, 24 Jul 2018 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerA 100 foot diameter asteroid is spotted on one of it's regular trips between the orbits of Venus and Earth. It's ultimate fate is to collide with one of these planets producing a spectacular light show.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impactor,nasa,space,traveler,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/473-ryugu-bound--15117972https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15117972Fri, 20 Jul 2018 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is conducting a six year flight from Earth to a potentially hazardous asteroid, Ryugu, and return a sample of it to Earth for study. Ryugu is likely to have under gone little change since the formation of the...121asteroid,astronomy,hayabusa2,japan,roundtrip,ryugu,sample,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/472-martian-mysteries--15061097https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15061097Tue, 17 Jul 2018 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerTwo exciting new scientific discoveries have ignited our curiosity and are guiding our search for evidence of past and/or present life on Mars.121curiosity,life,mars,methane,molecule,molecules,nasa,organic,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/471-botswana-bound--15061070https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15061070Fri, 13 Jul 2018 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerA small space rock with a diameter less than the height of an NBA basketball player had just crossed the orbit of our Moon on a collision course with Earth when it was spotted streaking through the constellation of Scorpius by my Catalina Sky Survey...121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,impact,impactor,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/470-martian-asteroid-hunters--15061007https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15061007Tue, 10 Jul 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe life of an asteroid hunter on Mars will be interesting and exciting. The double planet, our Earth and Moon, in the Martian night sky will be an unforgettable sight and well worth the trip.121asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,earth,mars,moon,nasa,observer,observing,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/469-flying-couch--15060990https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15060990Fri, 06 Jul 2018 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy birthday present from outer space was the opportunity to use the Catalina Sky Survey's 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Az to discover a tiny sofa couch sized asteroid as it was flying through the constellation of Bootes. Once every 6 months or...121asteroid,astronomy,birthday,earth,impactor,meteorites,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/468-peek-a-boo-asteroid--15000194https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15000194Tue, 03 Jul 2018 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerA strange asteroid plays hide and seek with frustrated astronomers.121asteroid,asteroidhunter,astronomy,nasa,space,strange,weirdfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/467-time-travel--15000171https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15000171Fri, 29 Jun 2018 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerLooking out into space takes you back in time. To experience time travel go to a natural night sky location like the Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary or another location on the darksky.org website.121astronomy,cosmiccampground,darksky,nasa,space,timetravel,travelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/466-dangerous-impactors--14859937https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14859937Tue, 26 Jun 2018 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid hunters have discovered more than 90% of the Earth approaching asteroids whose impact could cause global climate change. It was thus unusual when the Catalina Sky Survey found two, new, such giant space rocks in less than a week.121asteroid,astronomy,dangerous,earth,impact,impactor,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/465-returnee--14859883https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14859883Fri, 22 Jun 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerAfter being lost for ten years, the asteroid 2010 WC9 was re-discovered about a week before it came very close to Earth.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,found,impactor,lost,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/464-big-atira--14859833https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14859833Tue, 19 Jun 2018 07:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe recent discovery of an asteroid, whose orbit lies completely within that of the Earth, reminds asteroid hunters to continue to search near the Sun so that a large dangerous object does not sneak up undetected on the residents of planet Earth.121asteroid,astronomy,atira,dangerous,earth,impactor,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/463-exiled-asteroid--14859790https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14859790Fri, 15 Jun 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn asteroid is exiled to the outer regions of the solar system during Jupiter's rampaging tack away from the Sun long ago. During that process enough material was left in Jupiter's wake to form Venus, Earth, Mars, and the asteroid belt as we know...121asteroid,astronomy,exiled,jupiter,kuiper,nasa,solarsystem,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/462-our-view--14859742https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14859742Tue, 12 Jun 2018 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerModern technology provides us with stunning views of objects in the Universe in wavelengths invisible to our eyes, however, nothing is as moving and thought provoking as looking into deep space with your very own eyes.121astronomy,cosmiccampground,darksky,eye,nasa,space,stargaze,viewfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/461-brian-s-first--14859692https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14859692Fri, 08 Jun 2018 16:00:07 +0000Albert D. GrauerBrian Africano's first Potentially Hazardous Asteroid discovery can come near to the Earth and Mars.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,dangerous,earth,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/460-tess--14716830https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14716830Tue, 05 Jun 2018 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerTo find planets close to home NASA has launched TESS the Transiting Exoplanet Satellite which will monitor more than 200,000 nearby, stars over the entire sky to detect the tiny dips in light caused when a planet passes in front of it's star. The...121alien,astronomy,habitable,life,nasa,planets,space,tessfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/459-falling-space-rocks--14716818https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14716818Fri, 01 Jun 2018 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the early evening of January 17, 2018 six hundred and seventy four observers in 11 States and Canada reported a fireball meteor streaking across the sky to the American Meteor Society. To find freshly fallen meteorites visit the American Meteor...121asteroid,astronomy,fireball,meteor,meteroite,michigan,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/458-large-and-close--14716810https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14716810Tue, 29 May 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn June 30, 1908 a celestial object exploded 28,000 feet above the Tunguska river drainage area in Siberia, Russia releasing the energy of 185 Hiroshima sized atomic bombs. Recently a similar sized space rock made a sudden appearance before it passed...121asteroid,astronomy,hiroshima,impact,nasa,space,tunguskafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/457-30-years-of-fireballs--14716764https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14716764Fri, 25 May 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerFireballs are meteors which become brighter than the planet Venus and can sometimes be seen in the daytime. If you are lucky to see a fireball send in your report to the American Meteor Society and become a citizen scientist.121astronomy,bolide,fireball,meteor,meteorite,nasa,shootingstar,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/456-dangerous-trio--14594426https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14594426Tue, 22 May 2018 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the space of only four days, my Catalina Sky Survey teammates, Brian Africano, Alex Gibbs, and Greg Leonard, discovered three Potentially Hazardous Asteroids. Searching for such a large space rock on an impact trajectory with planet Earth is what...121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/455-17-000-to-go--14594405https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14594405Fri, 18 May 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerSo far asteroid hunters have discovered about 8,000 of the 25,000, large, potentially hazardous asteroids, suspected to exist, leaving 17,000 more to be discovered. For this reason, NASA has designed and proposed the NEOCam spacecraft to give us the...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/454-comets-and-asteroids--14559770https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14559770Tue, 15 May 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerIf you set your mind to it, you can find and hold a sample of an asteroid, called a meteorite, which has landed on the Earth's surface. On the other hand, watching major meteor showers will allow you to see but not touch comet dust as it enters and...121asteroid,astronomy,comet,meteor,meteorite,meteorshower,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/453-hammer--14559745https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14559745Fri, 11 May 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerTheoretically, If an asteroid on a collision course with our planet could be slowed sufficiently it could be made to pass behind our planet as it orbits the Sun. It is not as easy as we would like.121asteroid,astronomy,disaster,impact,nasa,nuclear,projectile,rocket,space,spacecraftfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/452-small-but-deadly--14559696https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14559696Tue, 08 May 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard's discovery of, 2018 FO5, a three football field diameter asteroid that can come closer than our Moon is a reminder that we need to keep searching for the many thousands of Potentially Hazardous asteroids...121falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/451-going-far--14541736https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14541736Fri, 04 May 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerPerhaps C/2018 F3 (Johnson) is an interstellar visiting Comet and is thus a sample of a place currently beyond our reach.121astronomy,comet,comets,interstellar,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/450-saint-patrick-s-day-comet--14425018https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14425018Tue, 01 May 2018 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn Saint Patrick's Day I discovered a comet which I share with my wife Annie Grauer.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/449-cloud-7--14424985https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14424985Fri, 27 Apr 2018 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerTo give you an idea of the asteroid traffic in our neighborhood, on a mostly cloudy night, through holes in the clouds, in a space of less than 2 hours, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski posted 7 new close approaching asteroid...121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,dangereous,earth,impact,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/448-two-pha-s--14424946https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14424946Tue, 24 Apr 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe large dangerous asteroids that we don't know about are what keep asteroid hunters going to the telescope.121asteroid,astronomy,dangereous,earth,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/447-nuking-an-asteroid--14423816If we have decades warning, the potential impactor's arrival time could be changed by impacting the dangerous object with a high velocity mass or if we have less time we will need to nuke it which will either blow it to bits or give it a rocket like push.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14423816Fri, 20 Apr 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerTonight, even though the chances are extremely slim, an asteroid hunter could find a sizable asteroid on a collision course with planet Earth. If we have decades warning, the potential impactor's arrival time could be changed by impacting the...If we have decades warning, the potential impactor's arrival time could be changed by impacting the dangerous object with a high velocity mass or if we have less time we will need to nuke it which will either blow it to bits or give it a rocket like push.]]>121asteroid,astronomy,impacting,impactor,nasa,nuking,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/446-asteroid-homestead--14294014https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14294014Tue, 17 Apr 2018 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the future one can envision a space mining family boarding a descendent of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch Vehicle for a a trip into low Earth orbit. A few hundred miles above the Earth's surface they would rendezvous with their asteroid mining...121asteroid,astronomy,earth,elon,elonmusk,mining,musk,nasa,rocket,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/445-not-so-secret--14294000https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14294000Fri, 13 Apr 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerA partnership of humans and computers will help to minimize the damage when asteroid hunters find a space rock with our number on it.121asteroidhunters,asteroids,astronomy,computers,earth,humans,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/444-near-comets--14210680https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14210680Tue, 10 Apr 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerAlthough no comet nucleus impact on the Earth has been conclusively identified, there is some evidence that suggests the 1908 Tunguska event in Russia, which knocked down trees over a 770 square mile area, could have been caused by a fragment of Comet...121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,comet,halleys,meteorites,meteors,nasa,shootingstar,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/443-unsung-heroes--14210667https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14210667Fri, 06 Apr 2018 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2017 observers in 50 countries at 440 different observatories made nearly 19 million observations of asteroids and comets which enable scientists to calculate where about 800,000 objects will be in the future.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,space,trackfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/442-brian-s-debut--14210656https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14210656Tue, 03 Apr 2018 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerDuring the only 3 clears hours of his first night solo as an asteroid hunter, my new Catalina Sky Survey teammate Brian Africano discovered two new Earth approaching asteroids with our Schmidt Telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona. Since one of Brian's...121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,earthimpact,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/441-carson-s-pair--14210650https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14210650Fri, 30 Mar 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls was observing, in the constellation Lynx, with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona , when within the space of only 35 minutes, he discovered two small space rocks well before they made very close...121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,earthimpact,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/440-tracking-elon-s-car--14117695https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14117695Tue, 27 Mar 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerStarman and Tesla will continue to orbit the Sun for millions of years to come as a physical testament to human ingenuity and our sense of humor.121astronomy,elon,elonmusk,mars,musk,rocket,space,travelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/439-big-and-close--14117665https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14117665Fri, 23 Mar 2018 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerA large asteroid approached Earth from the direction of the Sun with little advanced warning.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/438-bright-darkness--14117571https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14117571Tue, 20 Mar 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerMost of the humans on planet Earth have never witnessed that the natural night sky is not dark; but rather it is alive with it's own lights. See for yourself by visiting a natural night sky location near you.121light,mars,meteors,milkyway,night,planet,sky,starcluster,zodicalfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/437-christmas-comet--14117522https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14117522Fri, 16 Mar 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn December 25, 2017, while searching for Earth approaching asteroids in the constellation of Virgo, the Universe gave my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard a Christmas present in the form of a comet which now bears his name.121asteroid,astronomy,christmas,comet,hunter,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/436-lonely-asteroids--13927152https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13927152Tue, 13 Mar 2018 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe lonely asteroids which travel high above and far below most of the other members of our solar system may be made out of very strong materials and could be of particular interest to asteroid miners.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,mining,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/435-number-31--13927125https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13927125Fri, 09 Mar 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid Hunter, Alex Gibbs, discovered a comet on one of it's rare visits to our neighborhood.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,comet,discovery,earth,nasa,space,sunfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/434-biggest-space-rock--13927111https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13927111Tue, 06 Mar 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe largest Earth approaching space rock, found by the Catalina Sky Survey in 2017, is 3,250 feet in diameter. One like it strikes the Earth every 500,000 years or so with devastating consequences121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,huge,impact,impactor,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/433-tiniest-space-rock--13927090https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13927090Fri, 02 Mar 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid hunters have discovered a 4 foot 6 inch diameter, baby space rock, about 478,000 miles away in the constellation of Pisces traveling in our direction at 4.5 miles per second.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,meteor,meteorite,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/432-close-space-rocks--13927056https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13927056Tue, 27 Feb 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2017, my team, the Catalina Sky Survey discovered 17 space rocks that can come closer than the communication satellites to the surface of planet Earth. Fortunately none of them will strike the Earth anytime soon.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,nasa,satellities,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/431-tough-space-rocks--13927041https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13927041Fri, 23 Feb 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerSome very tough asteroids regularly pass closer to the Sun than the planet Mercury and may contain valuable materials such as phosphorus, antimony, silver, gold, and copper.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,minerals,space,sun,valuablefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/430-deportee--13927015https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13927015Tue, 20 Feb 2018 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn object visits our solar system from the beautiful Pleiades star cluster.121asteroid,astronomy,oumuamua,pleiades,space,visitorfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/429-2017-s-catch--13926990https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13926990Fri, 16 Feb 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn 2017 my team the Catalina Sky Survey led the world in the discovery of Earth approaching objects by identifying 987 of them as they whizzed by us.121approaching,asteroids,astronomy,earth,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/428-phaethon--13741600https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13741600Tue, 13 Feb 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe mysterious Earth approaching object Phaethon does not fit neatly into our definition of either an asteroid or a comet.During it's close approach to Earth in December of 2017 the Arecibo Observatory, having just recovered from hurricane Maria, used...121arecibo,asteroid,astronomy,comet,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/427-meteor-whispers--13741585https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13741585Fri, 09 Feb 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerRecent scientific studies have begun to shed light on the interesting mystery of how the small number of what we now call electrophonic meteors produce simultaneous light and sound. If you are lucky you could hear a meteor's dying whispers and could...121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,fireball,meteor,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/426-rose-rules-again--13741480https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13741480Tue, 06 Feb 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerRose discovers 8 new interesting asteroids in a single night using the Catalina Sky Survey's Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona.121approaching,asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,discovery,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/425-greg-s-comet--13741448https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13741448Fri, 02 Feb 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerGreg's comet comes into our neighborhood once per human lifetime and spends most of it's time in the lonely space high above or far below the rest of the members of our solar system.121astronomy,comet,discovery,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/424-long-winter-nights--13683736https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13683736Tue, 30 Jan 2018 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerLong Winter nights with good seeing, from start to finish, are those on which the asteroid hunter makes new discoveries while being treated to views of millions of stars, gas clouds, and galaxies which inspire a child like sense of wonder.121asteroid,astronomy,hunting,observing,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/423-silent-et--13683712https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13683712Fri, 26 Jan 2018 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe hypothesis that Oumuamua, the interstellar space rock, is an alien probe is pretty farfetched, however, how it came to have it's current shape is almost equally hard to imagine.121alien,astronomy,et,listen,oumuamua,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/422-almost-dangerous--13606965https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13606965Tue, 23 Jan 2018 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerA large asteroid barely missies being classified by NASA as potentially hazardous. It may be a good candidate for asteroid miners.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,hazardous,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/421-new-aten--13606952https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13606952Fri, 19 Jan 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerAten asteroids can make close approaches to Earth. They are difficult to discover because they spend most of their time inside our orbit with their illuminated side facing away from us.121asteroid,astronomy,aten,close,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/420-dry-sands--13606943https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13606943Tue, 16 Jan 2018 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerIntriguing features which change with the Martian seasons mimic flows of liquid water on the Earth's surface.121alien,astronomy,life,mars,seasons,space,waterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/419-et-s-cigar--13606936https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13606936Fri, 12 Jan 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe first alien object to observed visiting our solar system arrives from truly deep space and leaves us with the mystery of what it is and how it got that way.121alien,asteroid,astronomy,interstellar,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/418-fireball-ii--13437736https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13437736Tue, 09 Jan 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerA thousand meteors brighter than the planet Venus enter the Earth's atmosphere every day. The record of one of them on your dash cam can reveal where it came from and where to find pieces of it on the ground.121astronomy,earth,fireball,meteor,meteorite,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/417-red-dwarf-planets--13437519https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13437519Fri, 05 Jan 2018 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerEarth like planets are being discovered circling the most common type of star in our neighborhood of the Milky Way galaxy.121alien,astronomy,earthlike,et,planets,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/416-odd-ball--13437490https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13437490Tue, 02 Jan 2018 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerA small asteroid soars into the lonely space high above and below the plane of our solar system.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,solarsystem,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/415-well-done--13437226https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13437226Fri, 29 Dec 2017 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerA three football field sized asteroid survives on a harrowing path around our Sun.121asteroids,astronomy,earth,space,sunfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/414-enormous-visitor--13294358https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13294358Tue, 26 Dec 2017 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe impact of a 1,200 foot diameter asteroid would produce devastating earth quakes and wind blasts over many square miles on the Earth's surface.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/413-fission-rocket--13294342https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13294342Fri, 22 Dec 2017 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerTo cut the mission time to Mars, the risks, and the mass of supplies required for such a prolonged space mission NASA is looking at alternative means of rocket propulsion.121fission,mars,nuclear,rocket,travelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/412-tiny-space-rock--13294321https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13294321Tue, 19 Dec 2017 16:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerA tiny space rock narrowly missed the Earth.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,space,spacerockfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/411-200-plus--13294274https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13294274Fri, 15 Dec 2017 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerMy team the Catalina Sky Survey set a new single month record by discovering 211 Earth approaching objects in October of 2017. Fortunately none of them are on a collision course with planet Earth, however, they give us a good idea of what whizzes by...121asteroid,astronomy,discovery,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/410-extraterrestrial-whales--13236384https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13236384Tue, 12 Dec 2017 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerPerhaps the reason that we have not detected alien civilizations on distant worlds is because they exist in oceans covered by miles of radiation absorbing ice and rocks.121alien,astronomy,et,space,whalefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/409-alien-rock--13236371https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13236371Fri, 08 Dec 2017 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerA rock from another solar system is likely to have streaked by Earth before heading back into interstellar space.121alien,astronomy,rock,space,travelerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/408-earth-s-pet-rock--13236353https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13236353Tue, 05 Dec 2017 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerOn it's gravitational leash, Earth's pet space rock, 2016 HO3, accompanies us at a distance of between 38 and 100 times the Moon's distance from Earth as we both travel about the Sun.121asteroid,astronomy,pet,space,travelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/407-plant-companionship--13236324https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13236324Fri, 01 Dec 2017 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe plants that Mars explorers take with them will provide a source of fresh fruits and vegetables , fresh air to breathe, and perhaps a psychological benefit that is crucial to the success of their mission.121astronomy,human,plants,space,travelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/406-close-ones--13074779https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13074779Tue, 28 Nov 2017 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn less than 24 hours, while observing with the Catalina Sky Survey's 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona , I discovered two 25 foot diameter space rocks that theoretically can pass less than a quarter of the Moon's distance from us.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/405-kiwi-nights--13074768https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13074768Fri, 24 Nov 2017 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerMost of New Zealand's large rural areas and land reserves, covering an area as large as the UK, have unpolluted natural night skies offering spectacular views of the southern skies.121astronomy,darksky,newzealand,space,travelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/404-jess-s-find--13010604https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13010604Tue, 21 Nov 2017 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerLarge undiscovered Earth approaching asteroids are still out there.121apophis,asteroid,astronomy,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/403-double-comet--13010585https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13010585Fri, 17 Nov 2017 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerA strange object consisting of two mile diameter asteroids surrounded by a gas cloud is orbiting our Sun.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,space,weirdfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/402-above-scotland--13010561https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13010561Tue, 14 Nov 2017 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe CubeSat industry is making relatively low cost exploration of space possible and is creating heretofore undreamed of opportunities for the human exploration of space.121astronomy,cubesat,earth,explore,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/401-night-vision--13010524https://api.spreaker.com/episode/13010524Fri, 10 Nov 2017 15:55:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerExperience the wonders of the Universe first hand using your night vision.121astronomy,nightvision,senses,space,starsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/400-roving-venus--12770731https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12770731Tue, 07 Nov 2017 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerTo Survive on Venus where the temperature is 864F and the surface air pressure is 90 times that of Earth, NASA and JPL engineers are exploring the concept of avoiding the use of modern temperature sensitive electronics by creating a fully mechanical...121astronomy,nasa,rover,space,venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/399-moons-of-florence--12770724https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12770724Fri, 03 Nov 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe largest asteroid to come near the Earth in 100 years has two moons.121asteroid,astronomy,moons,radar,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/398-mars-rocks--12763560https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12763560Tue, 31 Oct 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerA visitor from Mars lands near Tata, Morocco on July 11, 2011. Pieces of it are worth 10 times their weight in Gold.121gold,mars,meteorite,morocco,rockfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/397-spotting-meteors--12763533https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12763533Fri, 27 Oct 2017 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerMeteors, shooting stars, or falling stars are different names for the streaks of light in the night sky which are in reality the dying embers of tiny asteroids. Observing a meteor shower can be a WOW inspiring experience.121astronomy,meteorite,meteors,nasa,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/396-jupiter--12738254https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12738254Tue, 24 Oct 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerJupiter has been observed by humans through out history, shaped our solar system, and made it possible for Earth to form.121astronomy,jupiter,nasa,planets,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/395-house-sized-space-rocks--12738213https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12738213Fri, 20 Oct 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerThere are approximately 3.2 million Earth approaching asteroids similar in size to the Chelyabinsk impactor which injured nearly 1,500 people and damaged more than 7,000 buildings in February of 2013.121asteroid,astronomy,chelyabinsk,impact,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/394-tiny-beasts--12738175https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12738175Tue, 17 Oct 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerA partnership with yeast and algae will enable spacefaring humans to use their waste products to produce food and plastics during long duration space flights.121astronauts,nasa,recycle,space,travelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/393-newest-moon--12684881https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12684881Fri, 13 Oct 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe moon cycle from new moon through full moon and back to new moon again was used by many nations to regulate their activities and forms the basis of the Islamic lunar calendar. You might try making the interesting observation of the first visibility...121calendar,islamic,moon,new,observationfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/392-dragon-delivers--12684867https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12684867Tue, 10 Oct 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe SpaceX 11 Dragon mission is the first time an American spacecraft has visited the space station since the NASA Space Shuttle Program ended in April of 2011.121astronomy,dragon,space,spacecraft,stationfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/391-finding-spacerocks--12684857https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12684857Fri, 06 Oct 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerFinding a meteorite that has traveled billions of miles through space to reach it's present location is exciting. It might even be worth real money.121falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/390-one-in-100-000--12684092https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12684092Tue, 03 Oct 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerAdditional observations over the years have eliminated the possibility that Apophis will strike the Earth as it streaks by closer than the communications satellites on that lucky Friday the 13th of 2029.121apophis,asteroid,astronomy,dangereous,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/389-tiny-spacecraft--12684077https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12684077Fri, 29 Sep 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerAbout the size of a saltine cracker and having a mass of less than 2 dimes, the single-board Sprite spacecraft has all the essentials; solar panels, computing electronics, thermometers, gyroscopes, radio communication equipment and more.121astronomy,explore,interplanetary,space,spacecraftfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/388-40-years--12591413https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12591413Tue, 26 Sep 2017 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerYour representatives, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are heading into deep interstellar space.121astronomy,deep,interstellar,space,voyagerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/387-florence--12591404https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12591404Fri, 22 Sep 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerFlorence, the largest asteroid in more than 100 years comes near to the Earth.121asteroid,astronomy,hazardous,near,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/386-interplanetary-sand-traps--12591360https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12591360Tue, 19 Sep 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerTopographic features on rubble pile asteroids are produced in a novel way.121asteroid,astronomy,itokawa,seas,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/385-phoning-home--12591344https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12591344Fri, 15 Sep 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerCell phone technology will be used to explore our Moon. Lunar tourists will be able to use their smart phones after 2018.121astronomy,cellphone,moon,space,touristfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/384-flying-by--12591305https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12591305Tue, 12 Sep 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerA small asteroid tests planetary defenses.121asteroid,astronomy,close,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/383-moon-water--12591238https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12591238Fri, 08 Sep 2017 15:00:05 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Moon is water rich and can supply lunar colonists with many of their needs.121colonists,moon,space,travel,waterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/382-martian-debris--12549549https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12549549Tue, 05 Sep 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerOur solar system is a much less violent place than it used to be.121asteroid,impact,mars,space,trojanfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/381-peaceful-star--12549522https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12549522Fri, 01 Sep 2017 15:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerA new appreciation for our Sun is growing as we learn more about other suns and their families of planets. Go outside today and enjoy some gentle sunshine from our well behaved star.121alien,astronomy,life,planets,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/380-southern-colleagues--12414564https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12414564Tue, 29 Aug 2017 15:10:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerA Small Telescope Makes A Significant Discovery.121asteroid,asteroids,comet,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/379-flying-mud-balls--12414556https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12414556Fri, 25 Aug 2017 15:05:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe most common type of asteroids are likely to have started out as giant convecting mud balls which could still exist at the center of large asteroids like Ceres.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,oceans,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/378-moon-express--12414537https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12414537Tue, 22 Aug 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Moon is a destination for human explorers.121human,landing,moon,robot,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/377-insider--12414528https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12414528Fri, 18 Aug 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerLarge asteroids lurking inside the Earth's orbit can be hard to spot.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/376-active-asteroids--12414510https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12414510Tue, 15 Aug 2017 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Dark And Mysterious Sometimes Becomes The Bright And Beautiful.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,meteor,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/375-chelyabinsk-sized--12337710https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12337710Fri, 11 Aug 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerSmall Earth approaching asteroids are part of our environment. Early Detection Is The Key121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impactor,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/374-brute--12337692https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12337692Tue, 08 Aug 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerFortunately This Asteroid Will Not Spoil Your Day.121asteroid,astronomy,dangerous,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/373-kepler-s-planets--12337669https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12337669Fri, 04 Aug 2017 15:00:25 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Kepler Space Telescope has discovered more than 50 habitable Earth sized planets orbiting distant stars.121alien,astronomy,habitable,planets,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/372-trappist-1-planets--12250644https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12250644Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:00:57 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Trappist-1 solar system consists of a dim red star and 7 Earth sized planets. Humans are beginning to explore this fascinating new potentially habitable destination.121alien,habitable,planets,solarsystem,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/371-2-headed-space-worm--12250625https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12250625Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:00:26 +0000Albert D. GrauerWill Earth evolved Biology allow humans to create sustainable colonies in space, on the Moon, or on Mars?121astronomy,colonies,mars,moon,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/370-life-s-parts--12250582https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12250582Tue, 25 Jul 2017 15:00:44 +0000Albert D. GrauerAstronomers have found the basic ingredients of life in an infant solar system.121alien,astronomy,life,solarsystem,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/369-finding-treasure--12250539https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12250539Fri, 21 Jul 2017 15:00:42 +0000Albert D. GrauerSpace miners can up their odds by prospecting with ground based telescopes.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,space,spaceminingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/368-asteroid-alert--12161935https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12161935Tue, 18 Jul 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerNASA's Scout and Sentry software systems allow asteroid hunters to study and keep track of potentially dangerous asteroids.121asteroid,astronomy,dangereous,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/367-future-impactor--12161912https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12161912Fri, 14 Jul 2017 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerA 33 foot diameter asteroid has about a 1% chance of impacting the Earth in the distant future.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impact,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/366-3-explorers--12132525https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12132525Tue, 11 Jul 2017 15:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerA tiny space rock which can pass closer to us than the communications satellites may have been ejected from our Moon.121asteroid,astronomy,moon,rock,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/365-tabby-s-star--12132496https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12132496Fri, 07 Jul 2017 15:00:46 +0000Albert D. GrauerTabby's star varies in brightness suggesting that it swallowed one or more of it's planets in the very recent past. Cannibal Star or Alien Megastructure?121astronomy,cannibal,planets,space,starfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/364-laser-surfing--12071908https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12071908Tue, 04 Jul 2017 15:05:38 +0000Albert D. GrauerLaser propelled ultra light space probes could be sent to explore nearby worlds.121astronomy,explore,habitable,planets,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/363-scoping-planets--12071877https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12071877Fri, 30 Jun 2017 15:00:42 +0000Albert D. GrauerHumans can measure signs of life in nearby worlds.121alien,astronomy,life,planets,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/362-asteroid-day--11972933https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11972933Tue, 27 Jun 2017 15:00:09 +0000Albert D. Grauer2017 Asteroid day events are being held at more than 500 hundred locations in 72 countries world wide. Participants at Asteroid Day events are encouraged to sign the 100X Declaration which seeks to increase the rate of discovery of potentially...121falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/361-nearby-planets--11972922https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11972922Fri, 23 Jun 2017 15:00:17 +0000Albert D. GrauerDiscovering and researching conditions on relatively nearby planets is within our reach.121alien,astronomy,earth,planets,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/360-rolling-in--11972871https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11972871Tue, 20 Jun 2017 15:00:02 +0000Albert D. GrauerA small space rock streaks past our home planet.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/359-ice-world--11870113https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11870113Fri, 16 Jun 2017 15:00:21 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn Earth sized icy world has been discovered orbiting a small dim star.121earth,habitable,habitablezone,nearby,planetfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/358-bigee--11870065https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11870065Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:00:28 +0000Albert D. GrauerLarge potentially dangerous asteroids are still out there.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/357-double-trouble--11870032How do we defend against such a complex object if one is found to be on a collision course with planet Earth.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11870032Fri, 09 Jun 2017 15:00:24 +0000Albert D. GrauerAbout 16% of the Earth approaching asteroids larger than 600 feet in diameter have orbiting companions. How do we defend against such a complex object if one is found to be on a collision course with planet Earth.How do we defend against such a complex object if one is found to be on a collision course with planet Earth.]]>121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/356-seeds--11740413https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11740413Tue, 06 Jun 2017 15:00:35 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhat plant seeds will be left for interstellar travelers to take with them.121astronomy,biodiversity,earth,interstellar,spaceshipfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/355-2-suns--11740386https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11740386Thu, 01 Jun 2017 15:00:52 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt is possible for a habitable planet to exist in a solar system with two suns.121astronomy,earth,habitable,planets,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/354-returnee--11740351https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11740351Tue, 30 May 2017 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhat had appeared as a solitary point of light returns to near Earth to reveal that it is two asteroids in a tight dance.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/353-backwards--11740041https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11740041Fri, 26 May 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerA 2 mile diameter object bucks the solar system traffic by traveling in a direction backwards to all of the planets.121asteroids,astronomy,comets,jupiter,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/352-worth-tracking--11732649https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11732649Tue, 23 May 2017 15:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid Hunters Have Found A Very Large Potentially Close Approaching Space Rock.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/351-another-close-one--11732635https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11732635Fri, 19 May 2017 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerSmall Space Rocks Are Part of Our Environment.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/350-asteroid-defense--11597416https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11597416Tue, 16 May 2017 15:00:31 +0000Albert D. GrauerEarth approaching asteroids are part of our environment.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/349-big-and-fast--11597395https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11597395Fri, 12 May 2017 15:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerLarge dangerous asteroids can still appear out of nowhere.121asteroid,astronomy,dangereous,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/348-16--11597365https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11597365Tue, 09 May 2017 15:00:48 +0000Albert D. GrauerA snap shot of the kinds of objects which constantly streak past our Earth.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/347-your-space-rock--11597288https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11597288Fri, 05 May 2017 15:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerHolding an object older than any other rock on the ground which is billions of years old and has traveled an unimaginable distance to be with you will be your payoff.121astronomy,earth,meteor,meteorites,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/346-arctic-ice--11597246https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11597246Tue, 02 May 2017 15:00:18 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe polar ice caps are the smallest in recorded history. Get Ready for wild weather.121earth,global,ice,satellites,warmingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/345-364days--11597219https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11597219Fri, 28 Apr 2017 15:00:26 +0000Albert D. GrauerInteresting objects are zipping by us.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/344-gnats--11426585https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11426585Tue, 25 Apr 2017 15:00:14 +0000Albert D. GrauerSmall asteroids swarm about the Earth in its orbit around the Sun like gnats around an outdoor light in the summer time.121asteroid,asteroids,earth,mining,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/343-mars-window--11426563https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11426563Fri, 21 Apr 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerHumans are sending a fleet of their emissaries to Mars in 2020.121astronomy,exploration,mars,space,travelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/342-that-s-close--11426519https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11426519Tue, 18 Apr 2017 15:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerA small asteroid, which could pass under a basketball hoop, missed the Earth by about 9,000 miles.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/341-ballooning-to-space--11426483https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11426483Fri, 14 Apr 2017 15:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerA ride under a balloon can give you several hours to enjoy the wonders of the Earth and its curvature against the back drop of space.121astronomy,balloon,ballooning,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/340-carson-s-comet--11347435https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11347435Tue, 11 Apr 2017 15:00:33 +0000Albert D. GrauerIn the distant future, Carson's first comet discovery is likely to impact a planet or be ejected from the solar system.121astronomy,comet,earth,solarsystem,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/339-no-need-to-smile--11347406https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11347406Fri, 07 Apr 2017 15:00:09 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe company called Planet has 149 satellites orbiting the Earth which are imaging the Earth's entire land area every day.121astronomy,daily,earth,imaging,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/338-psyche-bound--11347386https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11347386Tue, 04 Apr 2017 15:00:50 +0000Albert D. GrauerA spacecraft will be launched to visit a small metal world whose composition is likely to be worth 10,000 quadrillion dollars on today's market.121asteroid,astronomy,mining,psyche,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/337-lucy--11347371https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11347371Fri, 31 Mar 2017 15:00:35 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe Lucy Spacecraft, named after the human fossil Lucy, will revolutionize our knowledge of the origins of our solar system.121asteroid,astronomy,history,solarsystem,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/336-meteorite-mystery--11337678https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11337678Tue, 28 Mar 2017 15:00:33 +0000Albert D. GrauerTravel to the South Pole to Solve A Mystery.121antarctica,astronomy,iron,meteorite,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/335-dart--11337646https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11337646Fri, 24 Mar 2017 15:00:47 +0000Albert D. GrauerWhen Failure Is Not A Good Option.121asteroid,astronomy,impact,mitigation,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/334-last-19-hours--11337632https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11337632Tue, 21 Mar 2017 15:00:10 +0000Albert D. GrauerSmall Impacting Space Rocks Are Part of Our Environment.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,impact,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/333-whoppers--11337586https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11337586Fri, 17 Mar 2017 15:00:15 +0000Albert D. GrauerGood news. A large asteroid is not on a collision course with Earth.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,hazardous,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/332-greg-s-destination--10920906https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10920906Tue, 14 Mar 2017 15:00:35 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid hunters are discovering asteroids which can be visited by human astronauts.121astronauts,astronomy,colonists,space,travelfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/331-space-salsa--10920834https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10920834Fri, 10 Mar 2017 16:00:06 +0000Albert D. GrauerIf Lunar and Martian Colonists are to have chips and salsa they will need grow their own tomatoes.121astronomy,colonists,food,greenhouse,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/330-comet-johnson--10816783https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10816783Tue, 07 Mar 2017 16:00:52 +0000Albert D. GrauerComet Johnson will be visible to humans before it starts its trip to the stars.121astronomy,comet,interstellar,space,travelerfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/329-near-neighbor--10816684https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10816684Fri, 03 Mar 2017 16:00:19 +0000Albert D. GrauerAsteroid hunters are able to find small space rocks before they make a close approach to planet Earth.121asteroids,astronomy,earth,impact,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/328-the-heat-is-on--10816577https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10816577Tue, 28 Feb 2017 16:00:22 +0000Albert D. Grauer2016 is the warmest year the Earth has been in the more than 180 years of record keeping.121astronomy,climate,earth,space,warmingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/327-suddenly-bright--10816447https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10816447Fri, 24 Feb 2017 16:00:47 +0000Albert D. GrauerLarge asteroids can approach the Earth, suddenly, without much warning.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/326-asteroids-2016--10399302https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10399302Tue, 21 Feb 2017 16:00:28 +0000Albert D. GrauerDangerous Celestial Neighbors Are Still Out There.121asteroids,astronomy,observatory,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/325-marrakech--10399276https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10399276Fri, 17 Feb 2017 16:00:36 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn observatory near Marrakech, operated remotely from France and Switzerland, is discovering new members of our solar system.121asteroids,astronomy,observatory,space,telescopefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/324-newborn-planets--10362656https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10362656Tue, 14 Feb 2017 16:00:08 +0000Albert D. GrauerAstronomers are able to view the rare occurrence of planets in formation with the ALMA radio telescope in Chile.121astronomy,planet,planets,solarsystem,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/323-big-splash--10362629https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10362629Fri, 10 Feb 2017 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn asteroid impacting into the ocean would create a big splash but not a tsunami.121asteroid,asteroids,astronomy,impact,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/322-dust-stories--10312179https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10312179Tue, 07 Feb 2017 16:00:37 +0000Albert D. GrauerTiny messengers from outer space enter our atmosphere every day. Collect your own beautiful micro-meteorite sample.121astronomy,beautiful,meteorites,meteors,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/321-dangereous-comet--10312022https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10312022Fri, 03 Feb 2017 16:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerHumanity should be ready in the unlikely but potentially catastrophic situation in which a comet comes out of nowhere and is heading for planet Earth.121astronomy,comet,earth,impact,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/320-wow-what-a-ride--10238033https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10238033Tue, 31 Jan 2017 16:00:03 +0000Albert D. GrauerA potentially hazardous asteroid crosses the orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. It must be made of durable rocky material to survive its close approaches to the Sun.121asteroid,astronomy,hazardous,potentially,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/319-lost-and-found--10238005https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10238005Fri, 27 Jan 2017 16:00:23 +0000Albert D. GrauerA 426 foot diameter asteroid is found after being lost for 15 years.121asteroid,astronomy,comet,mining,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/318-caves-of-mars--10210061https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10210061Tue, 24 Jan 2017 16:00:23 +0000Albert D. GrauerIt is intriguing to consider that deep inside Mars all of the necessary ingredients for life may be present together.121astronomy,caves,life,mars,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/317-psyche-water--10210047https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10210047Fri, 20 Jan 2017 16:00:04 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe asteroid Psyche may be one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in the solar system.121asteroids,astronomy,core,earth,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/316-weird-centaur--10210028https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10210028Tue, 17 Jan 2017 16:00:01 +0000Albert D. GrauerCentaurs are named after the mythical beasts which were half human and half horse perhaps because they have characteristics of both asteroids and comets.121asteroids,astronomy,centaurs,comets,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/315-see-comets--10210012https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10210012Fri, 13 Jan 2017 16:00:10 +0000Albert D. Grauer2017 will be a good year to view comets with your unaided eye or a pair of binoculars.121astronomy,comets,earth,space,viewfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/314-our-number--10026293https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10026293Tue, 10 Jan 2017 16:00:40 +0000Albert D. GrauerThe extremely unlikely scenario of an impactor with our number on it.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,impactor,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/313-martian-motherlode--10026279https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10026279Fri, 06 Jan 2017 16:00:12 +0000Albert D. GrauerUsing ground the penetrating RADAR on the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, scientists have discovered an ice deposit on Mars the size of New Mexico.121astronomy,colonists,mars,space,waterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/312-200-yards-of-trouble--10026260https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10026260Tue, 03 Jan 2017 16:00:28 +0000Albert D. GrauerAn asteroid which can come to within about an Earth circumference of the surface of our home planet needs watching.121asteroid,astronomy,earth,near,spacefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/311-bright-and-bald--10026250https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10026250Fri, 30 Dec 2016 16:00:30 +0000Albert D. GrauerHumans are developing the ability to study an Earth approaching object to prepare for one that is on an impact trajectory with our home planet.121asteroid,astronomy,impactor,meteorite,spacefalsefull