343E-366-3 Explorers

343E-366-3 Explorers

Author: Albert D. Grauer July 1, 2025 Duration: 2:01
Recently, my Grandsons, Dane and Hank joined our asteroid hunting team at the Catalina Sky Survey 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon. The most interesting of our discoveries, 2017 KJ32 is only 16 feet in diameter, orbits the Sun once every 315 days, and can come closer to us than the communications satellites. 4 days and 16 hours before Dane, Hank, and I spotted it, 2017 KJ32 passed about 41,000 miles from the surface of Earth traveling at a relatively slow speed for an Earth approaching asteroid of 1.6 mi/sec. By the time 2017 KJ32 came into one of our images it was already 768,000 miles from Earth and was traveling away from us at 1.5 miles per second. A few weeks later it was too faint to be detected by our most powerful telescopes.

Each episode of Travelers In The Night feels like a quiet, personal conversation under a dark sky. Hosted by astronomer Dr. Albert D. Grauer, this podcast brings the distant cosmos into sharp, intimate focus. Dr. Grauer isn't just an observer; he's an active participant in the hunt, working with the Catalina Sky Survey team that has consistently discovered near-Earth asteroids for years. In these brief and engaging segments, you'll hear firsthand accounts of what it's like to track these ancient celestial travelers-the asteroids and comets that silently pass by our world. The discussions move beyond simple facts to explore the real-world implications of these discoveries, from planetary defense to the sheer wonder of our dynamic solar system. Accompanied by the contemplative music of John Lyell's "Eternity," each installment offers a moment of calm reflection on humanity's place in the universe. It’s a perfect blend of grounded science and cosmic curiosity, making complex astronomical concepts accessible and deeply fascinating. For anyone who has ever looked up and wondered what's out there moving in the dark, this podcast provides a direct line to the front lines of discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 1000

Travelers In The Night
Podcast Episodes
294-Dangerous Duo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Large unknown potentially dangerous asteroids are still out there.
293-From Luna [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A rock blasted from the Moon by the impact of an asteroid or comet may be on its way to Earth.
292-Disintegrating Comet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A comet is producing a 3,000 mile long trail of debris as it slowly comes apart.
291-Rose Rules [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Anyone who thinks women can't do computers and science needs to meet my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Rose Matheny.
290-Screaming Aten [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
An interesting object is spotted streaking across the night sky at the rate of 17 full moon diameters per day.
289-Strange Comet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A new comet is likely to have the characteristics of a really weird traveler in the night.
287-Heavenly Palace [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
China is challenging America's historical preeminence in space exploration.
286-Neighboring World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Astronomers have discovered an Earth sized planet orbiting the closest star to our Sun.
285-Mars Impactors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A given piece of ground on Mars is more likely to be hit by a space rock than is an equal sized area on planet Earth. Someday Martian tourists may be treated to super meteor storms.