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(meteorobs) He's the man
The Planetary Society Australian Volunteers
Press Release 9 February 2000
Australian astronomer helps to ally asteroid concerns
Once again observations by an Australian astronomer have proved crucial
to show that an asteroid will not collide with the Earth. On 28 January
an asteroid was discovered in an orbit that brings it close to the
Earth every 11 years. Calculations by Italian scientist Andrea Milani
showed that it had a slight possibility of a collision with the Earth
in 2022, after a close approach in 2011.
Asteroid hunter Rob McNaught, from Siding Spring in Australia, managed
to observe the asteroid on the night of the announcement. His new
observations have helped to pin down the orbit and fresh calculations
show that a collision is not possible.
McNaught's current work is done on a shoe-string budget. Up until 1996
he was a member of a highly successful Australian team searching for
asteroids that might collide with the Earth. Four years ago the
Australian government stopped funding this program. Since then the
Planetary Society and other groups have put forward a strong case for
Australia to rejoin the international search effort.
In May 1999 observations by Australian-based asteroid hunter Frank
Zoltowski caused the Minor Planet Centre to review the predicted orbit
of asteroid 1999 AN10 and conclude that it was not on a collision
course with the Earth.
Contact: Michael Paine mpaine@tpgi.com.au
ph 02 94514870 fax 02 99753966
Info http://www1.tpgi.com.au/users/tps-seti/spacegd.html
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