Avoiding another mass extinctin due to NEO Impact

Radice, G. (2009) Avoiding another mass extinctin due to NEO Impact. Journal of Cosmology, 2, pp. 440-451.

Abstract

In the last 50 years astronomers have discovered a vast number of small asteroids orbiting the Sun. A tiny fraction of these objects follow trajectories, which bring them near to the Earth. These Near Earth Objects, which travel at very high speeds relative to Earth, range in size from pebbles to kilometre-sized objects. Such objects have collided with our planet since its formation and have contributed to shaping life on Earth. Near Earth Objects represent a huge risk to human kind, but no near-term means to mitigate the consequences of such impacts currently exists. This threat raises major issues: among them the inadequacy of our current knowledge of the orbits of such bodies, confirmation of hazard after initial observation, disaster management and communication with the public. Another crucial issue, which needs to be addressed, is how to reach a potentially dangerous NEO as quickly and effectively as possible, and how to minimise or indeed remove the threat it poses.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Radice, Dr Gianmarco
• Authors: Radice, G.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Autonomous Systems and Connectivity
• Journal Name: Journal of Cosmology