351E-376-Active Asteroids

351E-376-Active Asteroids

Author: Albert D. Grauer August 26, 2025 Duration: 2:01
When it was first spotted by astronomers at Space Watch on Kitt Peak, 2008 GO98 appeared to be one of many outer main belt asteroids moving through the night sky. 9 years later when my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Greg Leonard observed it with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon it had a coma and a tail like a comet. Active asteroids like 2008 GO98 have asteroid orbits but sometimes show cometary activity which could be caused by a collision with another object and/or by thermal fracturing and ice sublimation caused by the slight warming they obtain from sunlight.

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
107E-119-Signs of Life On Mars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
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618-Tremendous Find [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Recently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate David Rankin searched for asteroids, as close to the Sun as possible with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona. His efforts were rewarded when he discovered 2020 UP3, illu…
106E-118-A Skyscraper Sized Asteroid to Pay A Visit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
In the distant future, an asteroid, with the diameter of the height of the One Worldwide Plaza skyscraper building in New York City, will likely make a close approach to planet Earth. This asteroid, 2014 XL7 makes close…
617-One to Track [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Recently my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Teddy Pruyne was observing in the constellation Lacerta with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when he spotted an unknown point of light streaking through the night sky…
105E-117-A Football field Sized Asteroid Comes Near [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
I was observing with the Catalina Sky Survey, NASA funded, University of Arizona, 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon when a bright fast moving point of light caught my attention. It seemed much too bright not to be known, b…
616-100 Million Year Old Crater [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
In western Australia, rock samples and maps of the local geology obtained while exploring for gold show evidence of a 3 mile diameter meteor crater which features a small central pucker like protrusion.
615-Solar Storm Forecasts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A large solar coronal mass ejection could put astronauts, airline passengers, power grids, electronic devices, and satellites at risk. Participants in the Solar Stormwatch citizen science project estimate the size and sh…
103E-115-Ballistic Capture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Spacecraft destined for Mars have so far used the Hohmann transfer to achieve an orbit about the red planet. This approach requires the launch from Earth orbit to be in a small window in time which becomes possible every…
614-Rare Atira [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
The Atira class of Earth approaching asteroids are ones whose orbit is entirely within that of the Earth's path about the Sun. Less than 3 dozen of the approximately 24,000 known near Earth asteroids fall into this categ…