Your
Assignment: You have been asked to head a research group
to study Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) and Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs). After
conducting all of your research, you will need to write a report discussing the
pros and cons of continuing the search for NEAs/NEOs, as well as determining a
final recommendation suggesting a continuation or a cessation to the search.
Make
sure to organize your report, and include a proper bibliography at the end that
includes all the resources you used. Use the following questions to guide your
research, and include all the information in your report. Finally, when writing
your recommendation, make sure you use evidence to support your decision – you
will be discussing and debating this topic in class!
* Use the
most recent resources possible when searching for information online. Some
websites have pages or articles that are not current and include information
that is now known to be wrong. Even 3-5 years can be outdated depending on the
information and claims. Also make sure to confirm your information. If only one
website or resource has published the information, and you cannot find it
anywhere else, the information may be biased or inaccurate.
Recommended
Sites for Research
Spacewatch Project: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/spacewatch/
NASA Missions: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/planets/asteroidpage.html
Near-Earth Object Program: http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/neo/report.html
Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazards: http://impact.arc.nasa.gov/index.html
http://impact.arc.nasa.gov/intro_impact.cfm
http://impact.arc.nasa.gov/intro_faq.cfm
http://impact.arc.nasa.gov/torino.cfm
National
Geographic News: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/
(conduct a search for “Asteroids” or “Killer Asteroid”)
Report/Technical Requirements: Report should be written in paragraph form
that flows and transitions well; includes titled sections; is 1.5-spaced, with
1-in margins, 12-point font Arial or Times font only; includes a title page with
title, name, date, and course information; includes a bibliography with proper
citations for written and online resources (text and video)
Research Questions: Include your responses to the following
questions in your report, in paragraph form. If you find additional information
that is relevant, make sure to include it!
Section
1: The Search for NEAs/NEOs
o
What
are NEAs and NEOs?
o
Where
are most NEAs/NEOs found?
o
Who
is conducting the search for NEAs/NEOs?
What countries are involved in the search?
o
How
large are most NEAs/NEOs that are being found?
Section
2: NEA/NEO Threat
o
What
scales are used to determine the threat of an NEA/NEO? Describe and explain them.
o
What
size does an NEA/NEO have to be to cause the following: a disaster that affects
a small portion of the world, a disaster that changes life on Earth
permanently, and a disaster than might destroy life on Earth completely
o
Of
the NEAs/NEOs that have been found, how many of them pose a significant threat
to life on Earth?
o
What
are the odds of a "killer" asteroid hitting Earth?
o
What
evidence do we have that “killer” asteroids have hit Earth in the past?
Section
3: Available Resources
o
How
many astronomers and observatories are dedicated to searching for NEAs/NEOs
worldwide?
o
In
the US, how much money is spent on the search for NEAs/NEOs? How much is spent outside the US?
o
What
could those resources be used for instead? Make sure to consider the research
facilities and manpower in addition to monetary resources.
Section
4: Saving the Earth
o
What
are some common methods that are usually considered in order to avoid a
collision with an asteroid? Provide an
explanation of at least three.
o
Of
those methods, how many of them can reasonably be used? Explain why.
o
How
much time is needed in order to avoid collision with an asteroid? Explain why.
Section
5: Recommendation
o
Propose
a recommendation whether the US should continue or stop working on the search
for NEOs/NEAs. Support your recommendation with at least 3 reasons that are
based on evidence you have found in your research.
o
Briefly
discuss at least 2 reasons why you did not choose the opposing recommendation,
and support those reasons with evidence.