ISU astronomer Dr. Carl Wenning has asked the Summer 'AD'Ventures I team for their help in evaluating the risk associated with Near Earth Objects (NEOs) colliding with the earth. Dr. Wenning's studies over the past several years have included observations of comets and asteroids with orbits which bring them close to the earth. Astronomers estimate that only a small number of these objects have been identified to date, leaving the vast majority of NEOs, possibly in earth-crossing orbits, undetected.

The urgency of Dr. Wenning's interest in NEOs has been heightened by a very recent and startling discovery that the earth has a companion asteroid which has an orbit influenced by our gravitational field. Although this asteroid poses no immediate threat, Dr. Wenning fears that there may be many more such asteroids which have yet to be discovered, perhaps one or more with the potential to impact the earth and cause global catastrophe. Dr. Wenning points out that two spectacular NEO impacts have occurred in Siberia and Brazil during this century alone. For this reason, Dr. Wenning is writing a proposal for increased funding for the search for NEOs and is asking for an observational facility to be built in the midwest.

Currently very little money is allocated for NEO research and tracking because there is little concern among scientists that a significant impact will occur in the near future. Some astronomers point out that the two impacts cited by Wenning had relatively insignificant consequences, posing no serious threat to humanity.

Our Task!! UPDATED !! Dr. Wenning is asking our help with the following tasks: assess the likelihood of an impact; assess the risks associated with such an impact; if necessary and possible, propose a plan for minimizing the affects of an asteroid impact; make recommendations about the need, if any, for further research on the identification and tracking of NEO's and/or plans for minimizing the risks associated with NEO's; prepare a final presentation of your findings and present it on the World Wide Web

Comet Hale-Bopp

Dr. Wenning feels that an unbiased evaluation of the problem will better help him assess the need for additional NEO research. He has already been in contact with several organizations regarding this issue. If our findings support Wenning's research, he intends to ask the National Science Foundation (NSF) for funding for a new research facility. Since the deadline for submitting the NSF proposal is mid-August, our task is urgent. The links provided below will be of assistance for our task.

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!! THIS JUST IN !! Read This Email Message (Posted July 15th)

!! THIS JUST IN !! A Letter From Dr. Wenning (Posted July 18th)