Cheap Astronomy - Dear CA # 139: Clearing the Neighborhood

Cheap Astronomy - Dear CA # 139: Clearing the Neighborhood

Author: 365DaysOfAstronomy.org September 15, 2026 Duration: 15:04

Saving the world on a tight budget.

Hosted by Steve Nerlich.

Dear Cheap Astronomy – Can we clear all the PHOs from around Earth?

A key feature of Cheap Astronomy's CSOTM (Crash Shirt On The Moon) proposal is that the most readily available source of shirt to crash are near Earth asteroids and a small number of comets. This has the double benefit of putting all the raw materials in one place, plus you are clearing out potentially hazardous objects that could collide with Earth at some time in the future.

 

Dear Cheap Astronomy – Can we really deflect asteroids with rocket engines?

This is a follow up episode to our recent one about crashing near-Earth objects on the Moon. Where a listener wrote to critique a throw-away line we made about attaching a rocket engine to an asteroid, particularly if it was a rubble pile asteroid. They were too polite to say it's a dumb-@$$ idea, but yeah, it is probably a dumb-@$$, well sort-of maybe.

 

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Imagine a daily conversation about the cosmos, where each sunrise brings a fresh perspective from a different corner of the globe. That’s the essence of The 365 Days of Astronomy. Born from the spirit of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, this enduring project has evolved into a genuine community effort, releasing a new episode every single day. You won’t hear the same host each time; instead, the microphone passes to astronomers, educators, enthusiasts, and scientists, each sharing their unique passion and expertise. This structure means the tone and topic can shift wonderfully from one day to the next-you might delve into the mechanics of a black hole on Tuesday and then explore ancient celestial myths on Wednesday. The consistent thread is a shared wonder for the universe, presented in accessible, bite-sized pieces. Managed by Avivah Yamani and edited by Richard Drumm, this daily podcast is a production of the Planetary Science Institute, sustained by listener support. It’s a calendar of the cosmos, offering a daily moment of reflection and discovery that proves you don’t need a telescope to have your perspective shifted. Tuning in regularly builds a habit of cosmic curiosity, connecting the vastness of space to the rhythm of our own days.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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