 to do is to continue funding telescopes like they are doing right now. Private organizations like the B612 Foundation need to continue our work on finding and tracking asteroids. The issue is being worked on, but we're not there yet.

What telescopes are used to track asteroids today?

There are numerous telescopes around the world working to detect near-Earth asteroids, with two of the largest today being Pan-STARRS [in Hawaii] and the Catalina Sky Survey [near Tucson, Arizona]. Soon we will have the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope [in Chile] operational, which will be the largest and most effective telescope yet. To effectively find and track asteroids below about 150 meters in size, we will need a new generation of telescopes. The B612 Asteroid Institute is working on a promising new technology that could track these smaller and more numerous near-Earth asteroids.

There's a collaboration between the European Space Agency and NASA called the Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment (AIDA) mission. What is it, and do you think something like that will be sufficient?

This collaboration you're talking about is a test of deflection of asteroids. When you find an asteroid that is on an impact trajectory, this test is one way of keeping that asteroid from hitting Earth. It's very simple. It's going to take a small spacecraft to run into an asteroid and we're going to measure the change in the orbit of that asteroid. This test is necessary because we know it's going to work, but we know that there are probably technical challenges that need to be ironed out before it becomes a usable system. So that mission is primarily a test of the technology.

Where do asteroids come from?

Asteroids are orbiting the sun, and most come from the asteroid belt, a region between Mars and Jupiter. Some of those asteroids get thrown out of the belt, usually by coming too close to Jupiter, and they end up in the inner part of the solar system, where Earth is. Those near-Earth asteroids are the ones that run into Earth.

Are there any asteroids that currently pose a threat to Earth?

There are no asteroids that we know of right now that have a very high chance of hitting Earth in the next 100 years. However, there are many asteroids we have simply not yet tracked, so we can't say anything yet about those.

What would happen if we discovered a big asteroid on
to do is to continue funding telescopes like they are doing justly nowadays. Private organizations like the B612 Foundation need to retain our work on finding and trailing asteroids. The issue is being worked on, but we're not there so far. 

 What telescopes are used to traverse asteroids today? 

 There are numerous telescope around the world working to detect near - Earth asteroids, with two of the largest today being Pan - STARRS [ in Hawaii ] and the Catalina Sky Survey [ near Tucson, Arizona ]. Soon we will suffer the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope [ in Chile ] operational, which will be the largest and about effective telescope yet. To effectively receive and traverse asteroids below approximately 150 meters in size, we will need a new generation of telescope. The B612 Asteroid Institute is working on a promising new technology that could track these smaller and more numerous near - Earth asteroids. 

 There's a collaboration between the European Space Agency and NASA called the Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment (AIDA) mission. What is it, and do you think something like that will be sufficient? 

 This collaboration you're talking about is a test of deflection of asteroids. When you find an asteroid that is on an impact trajectory, this trial is one way of keeping that asteroid from murder Earth. It's very dim-witted. It's going to take a belittled spacecraft to run into an asteroid and we're going to measure the change in the eye socket of that asteroid. This test is necessary because we know it's going to work, but we know that there are credibly technical challenges that need to be ironed out before it becomes a usable system. So that deputation is chiefly a trial of the technology. 

 Where do asteroids come from? 

 asteroid are orbiting the sun, and most come from the asteroid belt, a region between Mars and Jupiter. Some of those asteroids get thrown out of the belt, usually by fall besides close to Jupiter, and they end up in the inner region of the solar system, where Earth is. Those cheeseparing - Earth asteroids are the one that run into Earth. 

 Are there any asteroid that currently pose a threat to Earth? 

 There be no asteroids that we sleep together of right now that have a very high chance of hitting Earth in the next 100 years. However, there are many asteroid we have simply not yet track, so we can't say anything yet about those. 

 What would happen if we discovered a big asteroid on
 to do is to continue fundikg telescopes like they are dking rigft now. Private organizations luke tye B612 Foundation need tu continuv our worj on dinding anv trackiky astsvoids. Vhe issue is belng worked mn, but we're nod ghzre yet.

What telescopes are used to twack asyegoids today?

Thete art ntmerkls telescopes around the world sorking to detect nesr-Earth asteroids, with two of hhe largest today heing Pan-STQRRS [un Hawaii] ana the Catalina Sky Surbey [near Tucson, Arizona]. Soon we will have the Oaege Vynoptic Sucvey Tvlescope [in Cmple] opesationak, which will bc the laegest and most effectmve telescope yet. To effectivalv find and track asteeouds bglow dboug 150 mdteds ih size, we will need a new geneeation of telescopex. Eye B612 Asteroid Instieuee is working on a promising new technonogg that could track thesw smaller and more nulerous newr-Earth asteroids.

There's a collaboration between tve Eucooeau Spacd Ahency and NASA called the Asteroid Impact and Seglvction Assessment (AIDA) missipn. Wnwt is it, and ao you thjnk something like that wyll bw sufficitnt?

Thos collaboration you're talkung about is q test of deflectiln of asteruids. When you find an asteroid tkat is on an impaft trajecfury, this test is onv waf of keekkng that asteroid from hitving Zarth. It'r vety simpje. It's goijg to take a small spacefraft tm run into an asteroid and we're going to measure the chsnce pn the oryit of that asteroiq. This test is necesscry bezause we khow it's going to wjrk, but we knma that there are profablt texhnical zhallenges thay need to be ironed out before it becpmer a usable systen. Si that mission os oriiagilb a tqvt of the tewhnouogh.

Ehere do asttxoibs comr from?

Asteroids are mrbifing the sun, and mpsb come frim the afteroid belt, s region between Mwrs aid Jupmter. Spme of those asteroids get thrown out of tje nelt, usually fy ciming too clpse to Jupiter, and they end up in the iiner part of the solar wystem, where Earth ns. Those near-Xarth wsteroids are the ones that ryn into Earth.

Are uhere any asteroids thaf currantly pose a threat to Earth?

There are no asteroids that we know of right now tyat hate a very higg chsnce mf kitting Earvh in the next 100 yesrs. However, there are many astecoids we hdvz simply not yet tracked, so wr zan't say anytfing yet about those.

What would hsppen if we discovered a big asyeroid on
to do is to continue funding telescopes are right now. organizations like the our on finding and asteroids. The issue being worked on, but we're not yet. What telescopes are used to track asteroids today? There are numerous telescopes the world working to detect near-Earth asteroids, with two of the largest today Pan-STARRS Hawaii] the Sky Survey [near Tucson, Arizona]. Soon we will have the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope [in Chile] which will be the largest and most effective yet. To effectively find track asteroids below about 150 in we will a generation telescopes. The B612 Institute is working on a promising new technology that could track these smaller and more numerous near-Earth There's a the European Agency NASA the Asteroid Impact Assessment (AIDA) mission. What is it, think something like that will be sufficient? This you're talking is a test of deflection of When you find an asteroid that is on impact trajectory, this test is one way of keeping that asteroid from hitting Earth. It's It's going to take small spacecraft to into asteroid we're to measure change in the orbit of that asteroid. This test is necessary we know it's going to work, but we know that probably challenges that need be ironed out before becomes usable system. So that primarily test Where asteroids from? Asteroids are orbiting sun, and most come from asteroid belt, a region of those asteroids get thrown out of the usually by coming too close to Jupiter, they end up in the inner part of the solar system, where is. Those are the ones that run into Earth. Are any asteroids that currently a threat to Earth? There are no asteroids that know right now have a very chance of hitting in the next However, there many we yet tracked, so we can't say yet those. What would happen if discovered asteroid on
 to do is to continue funding teLescopes liKe theY arE doInG rigHt noW. Private organiZAtioNs like the B612 Foundation neEd to cOnTInue OUr Work oN findinG AnD TRacKiNg AstErOIdS. The iSsuE is beinG worked on, bUt wE'rE not there yet.

wHaT telescopeS arE used to track AstEroids ToDay?

tHere aRe nUmeroUs teleSCopes aRound the wOrLD workiNG to deteCT NeAr-EaRth asteroids, with tWO oF The largest todaY being paN-sTarrS [iN HaWaii] and the caTalinA sky SurvEY [nEAR tucSOn, Arizona]. Soon We will have tHE LaRge SynOpTic sUrvey TElescOpE [In CHile] operatiOnal, Which will Be the lARgest anD Most effEctive TelEscOpe yET. TO eFfeCtIVelY FiNd aND trAck asterOiDs Below AbouT 150 METErs iN siZe, we Will nEed a new generaTioN of tELesCopes. the B612 ASterOiD InstItute iS workInG on a promising neW tecHnology thAt cOuLd tRaCk theSE smallEr aNd mOre numeRous neaR-earTh ASTErOids.

There's a collaboRaTIOn Between tHe EuroPEaN SPAce AgencY aNd NaSA cALLed thE AstERoId Impact And DefLEcTiOn AssesSmEnt (AIDa) mIssIon. what iS It, anD do you Think somEthinG Like that will be SUfficient?

This COlLABoRAtioN yoU're talking aBout IS a teSt of DEfLecTIon of AsterOiDS. WHEn you find an asteroid ThAt is on An impAct trajectory, This test is ONE Way of keePing THaT Asteroid from hiTting earth. It's veRY simple. IT's goiNg to take A small spaCECraft to rUn iNto An aSteROId And we're going tO MEasuRe The chanGe iN the orbIt oF thAt aSteRoId. This tesT is necesSaRy BeCaUse We knoW It's going To WorK, bUt wE know THat theRe are ProbAbLy TEchNical chALlENGes tHaT nEed tO be IrOned oUt beFOre It becomEs a usable SysTEm. So ThAt Mission Is primarily a tEsT of the techNoLogY.

Where DO AsteroidS come from?

Asteroids are orBIting thE suN, and mOst cOme from thE asTeroid BelT, A regioN betweEn MarS aNd JUPIter. SOME oF thOsE asteroids GET thRown oUt Of thE belt, usUally by coming too clOSe tO Jupiter, and thEy eNd up IN ThE inNEr PArt Of THe sOLAr system, where EaRth is. Those NeAR-EArth asteroIDs aRe The ones That run Into EARth.

Are tHere any asTeroids thAt CurrENTly Pose a threaT to Earth?

there are nO AsterOIdS that We kNow of rIgHt nOw thaT have a VEry High cHance oF hItting earth In The next 100 yEars. However, there are many AsteroIds we HavE simply noT yeT TraCked, so we cAn't sAy anything Yet AboUt thoSe.

WHAt wouLd haPPeN if WE discOverED a big asteROiD on
 to do is to continue fund ing telesc opeslik e t he y ar e do ing right now. Priv ate organizations like  theB6 1 2 Fo u nd ation  need t o  c o n tin ue  o urwo r kon fi ndi ng andtracking a ste ro ids. The iss u eis being w ork ed on, but w e'r e notth ere yet.
Wh at te lescop e s areused to t ra c k aste r oids to d a y? 

Th ere are numeroust el e scopes aroundthe wo rl d  w o r kin g t o detect n ea r-Ear t h aster o id s , wit h  two of the l argest toda y  be ing Pa n- STA R RS [in  Hawa ii ]  an d the Catal inaSky Surve y [nea r  Tucson ,  Arizon a]. So onwewill ha ve  th eL arg e  S yno p tic  SurveyTe le scope  [in C h i le]ope rati onal,  which will b e t he l a rge st an d mos t ef fe ctive  teles copeye t. To effective ly f ind and t rac kast er oidsb elow a bou t 1 50 mete rs in s i ze,  w e w il l need a new gener at i o nof teles copes. Th eB 612 Aste ro idInst i t ute i s wo r ki ng on apromis i ng  n ew tech no logy t ha t c oul d tra c k th ese sm aller an d mor e  numerous near - Earth asteroi d s. Th e re's  acollaborati on b e twee n th e  E uro p ean S paceAg e nc y  and NASA called th eAstero id Im pact and Defl ection Ass e s s ment (AI DA)m is s ion. What is i t, an d do you t h ink some thing  like th at will b e sufficie nt? 

T his  co l l ab oration you'r e talk in g about  is  a test  of  de fle cti on  of aster oids. Wh en  y ou  f ind  an a s teroid t ha t i sonan im p act tr aject ory,  t hi s  te st is o n ew a y of  k ee ping  th at  aste roid fro m hitti ng Earth.  It ' s ve ry  s imple.It's going to  t ake a smal lspa cecraf t to run i nto an asteroid and we' r e going  to  meas urethe chang e i n theorb i t of t hat as teroi d.  Th i s  test i snec es sary becau s e  we  know  i t'sgoing t o work, but we kno w  th at there arepro babl y te chn i ca l  ch al l eng e s  that need to b e ironed o ut be fore it be c ome sa usabl e syste m. So that mi ssion isprimarily  a  tes t ofthe techno logy.

W here do a s teroi d scomefro m?

As te roi ds ar e orbi t ing  thesun, a nd  mostcomefr om the a steroid belt, a regionbetwee n Mar s a nd Jupite r.S ome  of those  ast eroids get  th row n out  of the b elt, us ual l y bycomi n g too clo s etoJ u pi ter, and th e y end  up i n t h e inne r pa rt of the solar s y stem, where Ea rthi s . T hos e  nea r- Earth asteroid s a re t he onesth at run into  Earth.
A r e the re any  aster oids th a t  c u rrentl y po sea threattoEa r th?

Th er ea re noaste ro ids th at wek nowo f  right now thathavea veryh igh  chan ce  of hit t ingEarth in t he next 100  years . Ho wever , there  a re man y a st eroids weh ave simpl y not  yet tr ac ked,  so  we ca n'ts a y any thin gyet  about th o s e. 
W ha t  wo uldhappe nif w e discove r ed a big  as t eroid o n
 to_do is_to continue funding telescopes_like they_are_doing right_now._Private organizations like_the B612 Foundation_need to continue our_work on finding_and_tracking asteroids. The issue is being worked on, but we're not there yet.

What telescopes_are_used to_track_asteroids_today?

There are numerous telescopes around_the world working to detect_near-Earth asteroids,_with two of the largest today being Pan-STARRS_[in_Hawaii] and the_Catalina Sky Survey [near Tucson, Arizona]. Soon we will_have the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope_[in Chile] operational,_which_will_be the largest and_most effective telescope yet. To effectively_find and track asteroids below about_150 meters in size, we will need_a new generation of telescopes. The_B612 Asteroid Institute is working_on a_promising new technology that could_track these smaller_and more_numerous near-Earth asteroids.

There's_a collaboration between the European Space_Agency and NASA_called the Asteroid Impact and Deflection_Assessment_(AIDA) mission. What_is_it,_and do_you think something_like_that will_be_sufficient?

This collaboration you're talking about is_a_test of deflection of asteroids. When you_find an asteroid that_is_on an impact trajectory,_this test is one way_of keeping that asteroid from hitting_Earth. It's_very simple._It's going to take a small spacecraft to run into an_asteroid and we're going to measure_the change in the_orbit of_that_asteroid. This test_is_necessary because_we know it's going to work, but_we know_that there are probably technical challenges_that need to be_ironed_out before it becomes a usable_system. So that mission is primarily_a test of the technology.

Where_do_asteroids_come from?

Asteroids are orbiting the_sun, and most come from the_asteroid belt, a_region between Mars and Jupiter. Some of_those_asteroids get thrown out of the_belt,_usually by coming too close to_Jupiter,_and_they end up in the_inner part of the solar system,_where Earth is. Those near-Earth asteroids are the ones_that run into_Earth.

Are there any asteroids that_currently_pose_a threat to Earth?

There are no asteroids that we know_of right_now that have_a very high chance of hitting Earth in the next_100 years. However, there are many asteroids_we have simply not yet tracked, so we can't say anything_yet about those.

What would happen if we discovered_a big asteroid on