Anthropocene Astronomy: Thwarting Dangerous Asteroids Begins with Finding Them | Ed Lu

TL;DR

B612 Foundation is working towards detecting and deflecting dangerous asteroids that pose a threat to Earth, with the aim of long-term planetary stewardship.

Transcript

okay hi I'm Stuart print from long now foundation you know if b612 foundation working with asteroids didn't exist I feel like the long now foundation would have to invent it because it is so much the kind of thing that we're trying to encourage in terms of long term thinking long term action and one of our first speakers actually nine years ago I t... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 The B612 Foundation is working to detect and deflect asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth.
• 😒 The use of space telescopes, such as Sentinel, allows for accurate tracking and prediction of asteroid paths.
• 🎟️ Philanthropic donations are crucial for funding the B612 Foundation's mission.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of the B612 Foundation?

The B612 Foundation aims to detect and deflect dangerous asteroids to protect Earth from potential impacts.

Q: How accurate is the prediction of asteroid paths?

With advanced telescopes like Sentinel, the prediction of asteroid paths can be precise up to several decades in advance.

Q: How does the B612 Foundation plan to fund its mission?

B612 is relying on philanthropic donations to raise the necessary funding for its space telescope and asteroid detection mission.

Q: Are asteroids valuable for resources and potential mining ventures?

While asteroid mining is not yet feasible, the discovery and mapping of asteroids by the B612 Foundation could pave the way for future resource extraction in space.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The B612 Foundation, founded by Rusty Schweickart, is focused on detecting and deflecting asteroids to protect Earth from potential impacts.

• Asteroids pose a significant risk to human civilization, with a 30% chance of a city-destroying asteroid impact by the end of the century.

• B612 is building a space telescope called Sentinel to map and track asteroids in the solar system, providing advanced warning and the ability to deflect potential threats.