Science Under the Dome - Armageddon 101: A Crash Course in Saving the World
Schedule
Thu Sep 12 2024 at 06:00 pm to 07:00 pm
Location
2414 Regent Drive, Boulder, CO, United States, Colorado 80309 | Boulder, CO
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Every day, the Earth is hit by small rocks and debris that usually result in harmless shooting stars. However, what happens when those small rocks turn into something much, much bigger? Hollywood loves a disaster, and few disasters rival the explosive nature of an asteroid or comet hitting the Earth. Movies like Armageddon and Don’t Look Up can burrow deep into the public imagination, but how close are they to the truth?Previously, stopping one of these events belonged to the world of science fiction, but modern technology and an international community of scientists are striving to turn the impossible into reality. In this talk, we’ll focus on the science behind the field of planetary defense. What threat do objects in space pose to the Earth? What are techniques like nuclear deflection or kinetic impact, and how can we use them to stop asteroids? What is DART, NASA’s first planetary defense mission, and what can it teach us?
The potential threat of an asteroid or comet hitting the Earth is very real. If the time comes, can humanity save the world?
Kya Sorli is a Ph.D. candidate in the Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences department at CU Boulder. She specializes in studying small bodies, like comets and asteroids, to try to understand how these bodies changed throughout their history and what they can tell us about the formation of the solar system. An active member of the science team for NASA’s upcoming Janus mission to binary asteroids, Kya also develops models to help understand how heat and light can alter asteroid evolution. As a child growing up in rural Montana, Kya developed a respect for and awareness of the natural world at a young age. With time, many nights spent peering up at the Milky Way eventually led her to the stars. When she’s not thinking about space rocks, Kya loves to learn languages, make music, spend time in nature, and read any books she can find.
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Where is it happening?
2414 Regent Drive, Boulder, CO, United States, Colorado 80309Event Location & Nearby Stays:
