Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to 2004 MN4 - Just about the bestest Christmas present a boy ever had

If You Ever Bothered To Study Actual Detection Data

You would know that NASA funded programs discover the vast majority of asteroids. Japan, Russia, and China are definitely not major contributors in detection. People all over the world are helping in tracking including many amatuers and poorly paid professionals in less prosperous countries some funded by the Planetary Society.

NEO Discovery Statistics

Search Programs

Updates from Past Recipients of the Shoemaker NEO Grant

Example MN4 MPECs
MPEC 2004-Y60 : 2004 MN4
MPEC 2004-Y25 : 2004 MN4

As for diversion see Astronauts Rusty Schweickart and Ed Lu on deflecting an NEA and the AIAA Position Papers on Planetary Defense

As for the future: "While the present Spaceguard Survey will be 75% complete by the end of 2004, much bigger survey telescopes such as Pan-STARRS in Hawaii and the DCT at Lowell Observatory are making progress" from Spaceguard: Current Progress and Future Capabilities. This reference includes information on how pan-STARRS and the DCT will push the discovery rate up for small impactors without the need for any pork style (ie waste of money useful primarily to centers recieving the money and not the US as a whole) lunar observatories.

See one can discuss the impact threat without discussing one's sex life and by referring to actual expert testimony and real data.

Merry Christmas (you have my permission to bookmark the links),
Mark

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