A petition calls on Australia to continue funding a project aimed at warning of the danger of asteroids
Dr. Noah Brosh
Asteroid - KY26 1998 A block of rock with a diameter of only 30 meters and approaching the Earth, as photographed from different angles. He is one of the entities that may endanger us in the future. Israel can contribute to the research effort on this unique topic
About a hundred scientists - including some well-known researchers in the field of asteroids -
Sign a petition addressed to the Australian government to renew project funding
The research for "Spaceguard" (Spaceguard) - an international organization that promotes the
The search for bodies that could harm the earth.
The signatory group is worried about the possibility that such a body might emerge towards a ball
The earth is precisely from the direction of the southern half of the sky. Today, most of my efforts
The search for entities that endanger us are concentrated in the northern half of
the globe. The southern sky is not scanned. Therefore such a possibility is
actual To reduce came the research - and the petition.
Today, most astronomers think that the chance of being hit by a body from space
One kilometer in size is at a rate of 1 in 5,000 for the next hundred years.
Admittedly, an asteroid of this size does not endanger the existence of humanity, but
Its impact could destroy an entire, medium-sized country. however believe
The researchers believe that it is possible that the very existence of the entire human culture will be challenged
In danger - if as a result of an injury as mentioned above, a "nuclear winter" will occur. In the event
This may cause animal species to become extinct, agriculture will be destroyed and there will be impacts
other lethalities.
Less violent events, caused by the fall of asteroids that are a hundred meters in diameter
ter, occur more often - perhaps once a century. the size of
The body that fell at the beginning of the 20th century in Tunguska in Siberia was probably only 50
meter - but he destroyed an entire forest there. A smaller body, only 30 in diameter
A meter (marked in the catalogs KY26 1998-c.) was discovered and studied only when it passed by
Earth at a distance of about 600 thousand km - less than twice the distance
between us to the moon The impact of such a body could destroy a large city or
A small country (for example, Israel).
The searches for entities that may harm us are carried out mainly in the USA.
Congress has determined that this is the goal of the space agency, NASA. Research activity
The same issue is also happening in Japan and Europe - albeit on a smaller scale
from the American effort.
In the southern half of the planet, similar scientific activity is only being done
In Australia - except that it is extremely limited. Mainly looking for you
The asteroids when they are still relatively far from the earth - and are from "the other side,
Far from the sun, of the universe. This practice facilitates the discovery of asteroids,
However, he may "miss" some of them, which are most of the time in the range between us
and the sun Also, the lack of complete coverage of the sky, may leave
About a third of the asteroids marked as "dangerous" are "unknown".
Israel can help in part of the scientific activity - especially while focusing
In the types of asteroids that are not a target for searches carried out by others
research groups. This, using the existing equipment at the Observatory
Wise in Mitzpe Ramon. A new camera, which should go into use there in time
The near one, will allow the photographing of a whole Ma'ale Shlomo from the sky - that is, an area twice as large
four of that covered by the full moon. Using the new research tool will allow
discover a large number of asteroids, some of which will probably be new (to science)
And may also endanger our world.
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