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O.D.
Trad climber
LA LA Land
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 30, 2016 - 08:53am PT
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Yup, June 30th is Asteroid Day.
Asteroid Day is a global awareness campaign where people from around the world come together to learn about asteroids, the impact hazard they may pose, and what we can do to protect our planet, families, communities, and future generations from future asteroid impacts. Asteroid Day is held each year on the anniversary of the largest impact in recent history, the 1908 Tunguska event in Siberia.
http://asteroidday.org/
Strangely, and in an entirely unexpected way, asteroids became part of my life. For a few years I operated an astronomical observatory in the garden behind my home. My initial intent was to take high-quality astrophotographs, for nothing other than artistic purposes. Eventually (in a process too long to describe here) the observatory became science-accredited and was dedicated almost entirely to the discovery, and confirmation of newly-discovered Near Earth Objects (NEOs), with a particular focus on Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs). During the decade or so that the observatory was operational, tens of thousands of observations were made of PHAs, NEOs, comets, and other small bodies in our Solar System. These observations are now a permanent part of the scientific literature.
Incidental to making these observations, I ended up discovering two new Minor Planets (classified as Main Belt asteroids) that circle the Sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. As their discoverer, I was given the opportunity to propose names for them to the the International Astronomical Union. One of the 2-km diameter bodies is now known as Johnmuir, for the pioneer climber, scientist, and co-founder of the Sierra Club (the other is named Eliewiesel for the Peace Prize laureate/human rights activist). Minor Planet Johnmuir was last observed by the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory in December 2015.
Here is a diagram showing where asteroid Johnmuir is currently located in the Solar System, on Asteroid Day 2016. I hope you take a little time to explore the web site linked above -- there is some pretty cool stuff, including a link to a feature-length drama called 51 deg North that depicts a catastrophic asteroid impact on Earth in the not-too-distant future.
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High Fructose Corn Spirit
Gym climber
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Jun 30, 2016 - 08:57am PT
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Happy AD.
Sure, but let's not forget about the other side of the coin, eh?
Asteroid Day is a global awareness campaign
Right on. :)
Cool story and history, O.D.
Here's to Johnmuir and Eliewiesel.
May their paths be unobstructed and clear forever and ever.
Thanks for sharing!
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O.D.
Trad climber
LA LA Land
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 30, 2016 - 09:00am PT
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...let's not forget about the other side of the coin, eh?
Of course:
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O.D.
Trad climber
LA LA Land
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 3, 2016 - 07:46am PT
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With the passing of Elie Wiesel, a brilliant light that exposed some of humankind’s darkest deeds has been slightly dimmed but not extinguished. His eloquent words, as recorded in a myriad of books and essays, will continue to enlighten and inspire generations to come.
I had the unique experience of conversing with Professor Wiesel in a thirty minute, one-on-one meeting in April 2010. A few months prior to the meeting, the International Astronomical Union approved the naming of a minor planet that I had discovered in my backyard observatory, as “Eliewiesel” in honor of his extraordinary contributions to society. While Professor Wiesel was in Southern California for a speaking engagement, he contacted me and asked if we could meet to talk about astronomy and about the discovery circumstances of the celestial body that now bears his name.
Prior to the meeting I prepared information to present to Wiesel that was educational in nature, on some of the basics of the physical make-up of the Solar System, and the branch of astronomy I was engaged in (as a hobbyist) that lead to the little planetoid’s discovery. Our meeting, however, went in directions that I had not expected at all. Instead of me droning on about asteroids and orbits, Professor Wiesel began the meeting with numerous questions about me, personally: where I was born and raised, about my family, about my faith, and about the origins of my interest in astronomy. Those questions lead to discussions of current world events and the prospects for peace, or continued conflict. I was a little taken back by the topics that we spent the most time on, and the relatively short amount of time spent discussing astronomy. Two days after our meeting it suddenly became clear to me why weighty matters pertaining to geopolitics were foremost on Professor Wiesel’s mind: I saw in a television news report that he had just concluded a lengthy, private meeting in the White House with the President of the United States.
The little planet that bears Wiesel’s name is still observed regularly by research telescopes around the world: it was last photographed by the Pan-STARRS telescope on Mount Haleakela, Maui, in February 2016. The planet is indeed small, estimated at only 1.5-2km (~1mile) in diameter, but the person for whom it is named will be remembered as one of the giants among those who sought to make a better world, for all of planet Earth’s inhabitants.
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