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Hazardous Asteroids

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Investigation total duration
2 hours
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Videos and Auxiliary Content

Videos and Slides

These resources are from a teacher workshop on this investigation. They include a talk (15 minute video) from an expert in this astronomical topic and the accompanying talk visuals (speaker slides).

Video: Rob Jedicke, "Killer Asteroids"

Speaker slides

Options for Extended Exploration

  1. Planetary scientists have determined that an asteroid may be considered potentially hazardous if it comes within 0.05 au of Earth. No such number exists for other planets, because the absence of life means there is no “hazard.” But in the future, humans may inhabit Mars. If you were to calculate a minimum hazard distance for Mars, would it be more or less than 0.05 au? Explain what factors you considered in making your decision.
  2. NEOs are divided into four groups (Atira, Aten, Apollo and Amor).
    1. What distribution of PHAs belong to each of the four classes of NEOs?
    2. Can you develop explanations for any patterns you detect?
    3. Do more PHAs seem to originate from a certain class of NEOs, such as Amors, Apollos, etc.?

More information about the four classes of NEOs is here.

Make Your Own Rubin Voices Trading Card

Use this activity:

  • To encourage students to imagine themselves in a STEAM career.
  • To Introduce the diversity of people and occupations involved in Observatory operations.
  • As a "get to know you" activity


Make Your Own Rubin Voices Trading Card

Back to Hazardous Asteroids