Calgary researchers tracking asteroids
Posted Feb 22, 2013 4:04 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Scientists at the University of Calgary are hoping to make groundbreaking discoveries about asteroids by reaching higher into the atmosphere.
The Near-Earth Object Surveillance Satellite will be launched 800 kilometres above earth on Monday.
U of C planetary scientist Alan Hildebrand says there are great telescopes on the ground but they can only peer into the night sky.
“You can kind of peer around the corner of the earth a little bit while its still dark and sunset and sunrise, but to get as close as 45 degrees from the sun is really quite difficult and you can only do it for 10 or 15 minutes.” He says.
Hildebrand says they are helping to map out asteroids that may come in contact with earth in the future.
Two asteroid incidents happened last week when a massive rock passed by our planet and another hit Russia injuring hundreds of people.
