W I S E -- Explorer mission

Stargate

" WISE is a NASA-funded Explorer mission that will provide a vast storehouse of knowledge about the solar system, the Milky Way, and the Universe. Among the objects WISE will study are asteroids, the coolest and dimmest stars, and the most luminous galaxies. "

There are a few links within the page to view the launch etc
From the Lovely Amy Mainzer of JPL

http://www.cosmicdiary.org/blogs/nasa/amy_mainzer/?p=578

Stargate

Kevster

..chances it'll find 'that' asteroid that will plow straight into us?

Stargate

Kevster wrote: »

..chances it'll find 'that' asteroid that will plow straight into us?

Astronomers are now shifting their focus from the largest impacts – like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago – to the smaller, but still dangerous space rocks. For example, the rock that detonated in the air above Tunguska, Siberia in 1908. That object was probably only between 20-100 metres (65-325 feet) across.

And yet, it leveled the forest for thousands of square kilometres and would have caused immense destruction if it had hit a populated area.

With so many asteroid out there and their unpredictable orbits Kevster i feel happier we have the Lovely DR Amy Mainzer of JPL looking after us

Beeker

Stargate wrote: »

With so many asteroid out there and their unpredictable orbits Kevster i feel happier we have the Lovely DR Amy Mainzer of JPL looking after us

Yeah, yeah, yeah.....Merry Christmas..............:D:D:D

ynotdu

Stargate wrote: »

Astronomers are now shifting their focus from the largest impacts – like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago – to the smaller, but still dangerous space rocks. For example, the rock that detonated in the air above Tunguska, Siberia in 1908. That object was probably only between 20-100 metres (65-325 feet) across.

And yet, it leveled the forest for thousands of square kilometres and would have caused immense destruction if it had hit a populated area.

With so many asteroid out there and their unpredictable orbits Kevster i feel happier we have the Lovely DR Amy Mainzer of JPL looking after us

We might get lucky and one will hit Leinster House!;)

ynotdu

This Video is an 'idiots guide' to what WISE is all about,less than 4 minutes long,very informative and pleasantly presented.

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm?id=879