Another world-class telescope is one step closer to first light. The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), which aims to be one of the most powerful ground-based observatories of all time, has entered its final design phase. Join Sarah Al-Ahmed on this week’s Planetary Radio, as she speaks with Rebecca Bernstein, chief scientist for the GMT Organization and astronomer at the Carnegie Institution for Science, about the civilization-scale science this observatory will accomplish. Image credit: GMTO Corporation
We’re preparing our next efforts to Save NASA Science. Now that we have delivered our petition — along with its 20,000+ signatures — to the U.S. Congress, what comes next? Jack Kiraly, our director of government relations, breaks down what the future might hold. With both the House and Senate planning to hold hearings soon, we expect more advocacy ahead.
Shoemaker award-winners are making a difference. Over just the past two years, our support for advanced amateur astronomers has helped volunteers take thousands of observations of potentially dangerous near-Earth objects (NEOs). We checked in with our awardees to hear about their latest accomplishments. Highlights include critical measurements of asteroids that recently made headlines, as well as studies of others that ended up impacting Earth.
When should you worry about an asteroid impact? Our handy new guide to the Torino impact hazard scale breaks the answer down so that anyone can tell which NEOs might spell catastrophe — and which are just clickbait.
July’s book club is coming up! Next month, The Planetary Society’s book club will consider what it means to view Earth from space. Join Mat Kaplan and Frank White on Tuesday, July 8, at 9 pm ET, for a live virtual event to discuss White’s new book, “The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution,” in our Book Club Q&A. White originally coined the term “overview effect” in the 1980s. Members can join the event in the online member community and participate in discussions with the author. Not yet a member Join today.