376E-412-Tiny Space Rock

376E-412-Tiny Space Rock

Author: Albert D. Grauer February 17, 2026 Duration: 2:01
Eighteen hours before my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Rose Matheny first spotted a small space rock with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona it had passed less than the Earth's diameter from the surface of our planet. Rose was able to discover this Smart Car sized space rock after it moved out of the Sun's glare. At this point it was about the Moon's distance from her and was traveling away at 3.4 mi/s. After Rose posted her discovery observations on the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object Confirmation page, for the next 24 hours it was tracked by telescopes in Spain, Illinois, and Arizona. Scientists at the Minor Planet Center used these data to calculate it's orbit around the Sun, estimate it's size and give it the name 2017 UJ2. This small asteroid had come near the Earth in 1978 but was invisible to the technology which astronomers had available at the time. 2017 UJ2 will not come close enough for us to detect in the foreseeable future, however, there are likely to be tens of millions of others like it which can come close to Earth. A small asteroid the size of Rose's discovery is likely to enter our atmosphere at least once a year and explodes at about 4 times higher than airliners fly. If such an event happened at night and you were lucky enough to see it you would be treated to a fantastic light show. If you are as lucky as a power ball winner you might even be able to find a piece of it on the ground.

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
257E-269-Gamma Ray Eyes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
If you woke up tomorrow with gamma ray eyes things would look very different. Geology would come to life as you peered into the Earth and became aware of the various minerals it contains. Gamma rays coming from stars, su…
769-Green Comet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Given the effects of climate change today who can predict what planet Earth will be like when C/2023 P1(Nishimura) comes back near our home planet in approximately 2455 AD.
256E-268-Mars Weather Report [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Before you pack your bags for a trip to Mars you will want to check out the weather data that NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover has recorded over the past two Martian years.There is no getting around the fact that you will nee…
768-Capricornus Observatory Csokako [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
In 2023 T. Maroti of the Capricornus Observatory, Csokako, Hungary discovered two Earth approaching asteroids which were passing through the night sky unnoticed by other observers. His equipment is an 11 inch telescope,…
767-A Really Tough Customer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
The more we learn about 322P/SOHO the stranger it becomes.
766-Korean Asteroid Hunters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
The Catalina Sky Survey and the Korean teams of asteroid hunters will discover and track Earth approaching objects making the residents of our home planet safer
255E-267-Hiding from ET [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Should humans hide from ET or should ET hide from us?
765-Bright-Fireball [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Bright fireball meteors sometimes rain pieces of themselves onto the ground for meteorite hunters to discover.
254E-266-Colliding Planets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Collisions between planets, planetesimals, asteroids, and comets have produced the place where we live and breathe.Today scientists are replacing myths with solid evidence that violent impacts between planets, planetesim…
764-Green-Airglow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
The natural night sky is alive with its own lights. In addition to celestial sources often there is natural night sky airglow powered by space weather from above and/or tropospheric activity from below. It is not the Aur…