Planetary defence: how are we doing?

Asteroids have loomed large in the collective imagination for as long as they’ve been known, with films and books often depicting world ending events. 

A photograph in the Royal Museums Greenwich collection shows the aftermath of an asteroid explosion over Siberia in 1908, visible 4,000 miles away from the roof of the Queen’s House. Should we be concerned? What are the facts?

Over the past 50 years, scientists and engineers have progressed our understanding of asteroids. Today modern telescopic surveys discover nearby asteroids every night and the first space missions to test deflection techniques have been launched. 

In 2016, the United Nations designated 30 June as International Asteroid Day, recognising the importance of studying and defending the Earth against potentially destructive space rocks.

Professor Alan Fitzsimmons has worked in planetary defence for the past two decades and will be speaking to Members in the Peter Harrison Planetarium about the current state of affairs and what is expected in the next 10 years.

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Main image courtesy of NASA/JSC