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
22E-34-Number 5000 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
The 5000th Earth approaching asteroid discovered by the University of Arizona's NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey is approximately 3 times the size of the one which injured 1491 people in Russia in February of 2013. It was…
533-100 Moons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A small telescope makes a substantial contribution to our knowledge of the celestial visitors to our neighborhood.
21E-33-A Busy Month In The Earth's Neighborhood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
For us who look for Earth approaching objects, March of 2014 was a busy month. Six asteroids which pass closer than our Moon were discovered and tracked. The smallest of them is the size of an SUV and the largest would f…
532-Teddy's Debut [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
On a recent training night with Teddy Pruyne at the controls of our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona, this duo discovered six new Earth Approaching Objects, an inner main belt asteroid, and rediscovered an inner…
20E-32-A Peanut Shaped Asteroid with a Moon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
It appears that Hektor and its moon were created by a collision between two icy asteroids early in the 4.5 billion year history of our solar system when things were more chaotic. They happened to land in a gravitational…
531-Alex's Catch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
On a cold windy night, with clouds frustrating his search, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Alex Gibbs discovered 8 new celestial visitors while observing with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona.
19E-31-A Gentle Breakup Of An Asteroid [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
An asteroid spins up and comes apart. When the Earth runs into its trail we will be treated to a meteor shower.
530-Cuban Meteorites [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A large fireball meteor which exploded over Cuba produced a number of interesting results.
18E-30-Asteroids On An Inside Track [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Only 13 out of the more than 10,000 Earth approaching objects have their orbit completely within that of the Earth.
529-Africano 4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
My Catalina Sky Survey Teammate Brian Africano discovered his 4th comet while asteroid hunting in the constellation of Ursa Major with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona. Observers with small telescopes equipp…