October 3, 2025 8-10 PM

Event Type: Lecture and Stargazing
Title: Astronomy on our Doorstep: Searching for Near-Earth Objects
Lecturer: Joe Masiero
Position: Research Scientist
Institution: IPAC
Abstract:
Asteroids and comets in the inner Solar System are referred to as Near-Earth objects (NEOs) based on their proximity to Earth. These bodies, which formed at the birth of our Solar System almost 5 billion years ago, provide us with important insights about the history and evolution of our Sun and the planets. However, NEOs also pose a hazard to the Earth due to the possibility of collision. In this talk, I will discuss how astronomers discover NEOs, what techniques we use to understand them better, what we can do if we find one that poses the threat of impacting Earth, and the exciting future in store as the next-generation telescopes to study NEOs begin operation.