843-Possible Impactor

843-Possible Impactor

Author: Albert D. Grauer April 4, 2025 Duration: 2:01
On 27 December 2024 the Atlas group in Chile discovered an object now known as 2024 YR4 which appeared to have a significant chance of impacting Earth 22 December of 2032. The most recent data indicates the chance that 2024 YR4 impact Earth is about 1 in 25,000.  These data indicate our moon has about a 1 in 700 chance to be impacted by this space rock. Even so astronomers are preparing for 2028 when 2024 YR4 willagain come within the range of our instruments.   Current data indicates 2024 YR4 will miss the Moon by less than 1000 miles on  2032 December 22 giving astronauts there a Merry Christmas.

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
37E-49-Earth Approaching Wannabees [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
During a recent 6 night observing run with the NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, I found 29 Earth Approaching Asteroid candidates. With further observations, sixteen of these turned out to…
548-Dragonfly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
In our solar system the most exotic body which contains the complex organic molecules necessary for life is Saturn's Moon Titan. NASA's Dragonfly will explore this strange world with a flying drone. What it finds is like…
36E-48-Large Asteroids Still Appear Suddenly Without Warning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Asteroid 2014 JO25 is truly an amazing object. It orbits the Sun, every 2.94 years, on a very elongated path that goes closer to the Sun than Mercury and then it travels out to well past Mars. It must be made of hard roc…
547-Impact Mars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A given piece of ground on Mars receives several times more space rock impacts than a similar sized area on Earth. Perhaps, in the future the Martian tourist industry will bring visitors to view super meteor storms which…
35E-47-Earth Approaching Space Rocks Collected Over 6 Nights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
During a recent 6 night observing run with the NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, I found 29 Earth Approaching Asteroid candidates which were posted on the Minor Planet Center website. The l…
546-Snoopy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
49 years after the Lunar Landing Module "Snoopy" was abandoned by Apollo 10 Astronauts, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Carson Fuls may have spotted it while searching for Earth approaching asteroids in the constellation…
34E-46-How Far Is Forever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
When you look out in space you are also looking back in time. Objects in space are older than they appear to us; the Moon more than a second , Mars a minute and a half, and the Great Galaxy in Andromeda appears as it was…
545 Celestial Congestion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Imagine being under a clear natural night sky, with no moon, waiting to see stars down to the horizon, the Milky Way, star clusters, planets, the zodiacal light, comets, and other wonders of the natural night sky. Sudden…
33E-45-A World Full Of Holes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
It may surprise you to know that there are more than 180 confirmed impact craters on our planet. It is likely that many more have been erased by the actions of wind and water. An asteroid smashing into a water rich world…
544 Missing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Statistically, asteroid hunters are thought to have discovered 90 to 95% of the Earth approaching asteroids larger than about 3,000 feet in diameter. There are thought to be at least 50 more out there. Where are they?