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
17E-28-Finding An Asteroid for Astronauts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A prelude of a manned flyby of Venus and Mars could be a manned mission to an asteroid. The search for an appropriate asteroid continues.
528-Asteroid Billiards [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test or DART for short will test methods to make a dangerous asteroid miss Earth.
16E-27-A Lucky Friday the 13th [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Friday the 13th of 2029 will be a lucky day for the Human race when the asteroid passes very near the Earth.
527-Comet Groeller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
My Catalina Sky Survey teammate Hannes Groeller was asteroid hunting with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona when he discovered his first comet. After the Sun bakes out all of the frozen gasses, Hannes's Comet…
15E-26-Binary Asteroids [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Approximately 1 out of 5 large Near-Earth Asteroids are really double or triple systems of objects orbiting a common center of gravity. Such double trouble objects presents a challenge if one of them were found to be hea…
526-Tiny Visitor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A tiny space rock passes through the cloud of communications satellites surrounding the Earth.
14E-25-Fireballs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Occasionally one observes a meteor brighter than the Planet Venus which is called a fireball. Some of them can be bright enough to be seen in the day time.Every year, several thousand fireballs are logged by the American…
525-Collision [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
The object which the 2.3 mile diameter Gault hit is likely to have been a third of a mile diameter space rock. This celestial crash left Gault with a 250,000 long straight tail.
13E-24-Jupiter Friend or Foe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
The Earth is our home. It provides us with air, food, and water. The Sun powers all life. The role of Jupiter is less clear. Jupiter puts some objects on a collision course with our planet but not so frequently enough to…
12E-22-Asteroid 2013 TV 135 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Asteroid 2013 TV135 is a potentially hazardous asteroid which at first appeared to be on a collision course with planet Earth. Subsequent observations refined its orbit and reduced its chances of striking us.