HOT NEWS
On February 15th, the anniversary of the Chelyabinsk meteor, we announced Asteroid Day 2019 with a global press release outlining 2019 Asteroid Day activities and a sample of events.
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ASTEROID DAY HIGHLIGHTED EVENT
MONTE CASTELO, SAO PÃOLO, BRAZIL
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The Duília de Mello Astronomy Club in the municipality of Monte Castelo in the São Paulo state of Brazil celebrated Asteroid Day with an exciting evening of activities.
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The event included scientific presentations and videos, a quiz based on the Scientists Rock videos with prizes, fantastic costumes, and a telescope viewing.
They discussed asteroid 4 Vesta, one of the largest objects in the asteroid belt, and one the Club has watched through their telescopes for a while.
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At the end of the evening, they inaugurated their new powerful 200mm Sky-Watcher telescope by letting everyone perform their own astronomical observations of Jupiter and its moons, Saturn, other stars and 4 Vesta.
The club, named after Brazilian astronomer Duília de Mello, brings together astronomy enthusiasts in the region to exchange ideas, information and excitement about space science.
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ASTEROID DAY
HIGHLIGHTED COMMUNITY MEMBER
SARAH ABOTSI-MASTERS
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Sarah Abotsi-Masters is the Asteroid Day Regional Coordinator for Ghana. She has been deeply involved with the Planetarium Science Center in Accra for the past 10 years. She has run events for children of all ages, given astronomy talks, maintains mailing lists, and teaches at Teachers' Workshops.
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This past year, she organized a fantastic family-friendly Asteroid Day event with fun space videos and arts and crafts.
She is the National Coordinator of Ghana for Astronomers without Borders and she has been secretary of the Ghana Astronomy and Observation Association.
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She loves spreading information about the universe. You can follow her on Twitter @SarahAccra
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ASTEROID DAY EXPERT PANEL (ADXP)
HIGHLIGHTED MEMBER
TOM JONES
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Thomas D. Jones, PhD, is a scientist, author, pilot, and veteran NASA astronaut.
In more than eleven years with NASA, he flew on four space shuttle missions to Earth orbit. On his last flight, Dr. Jones led three spacewalks to install the centerpiece of the International Space Station, the American Destiny laboratory. He has spent fifty-three days working and living in space.
After graduation from the Air Force Academy, Tom piloted B-52D strategic bombers, earned a doctorate in planetary sciences from the University of Arizona, studied asteroids for NASA, engineered intelligence-gathering systems for the CIA, and helped NASA develop advanced mission concepts to explore the solar system.
Tom is the author of several current space and aviation books: Ask the Astronaut, Planetology, (written with Ellen Stofan), Hell Hawks! The Untold Story of the American Fliers Who Savaged Hitler’s Wehrmacht (with Robert F. Dorr), and Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Memoir. The Wall Street Journal named Sky Walking one if its “Five Best” books on space.
Dr. Jones’ awards include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, four NASA Space Flight Medals, the NASA Exceptional Service award, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, the NASA Exceptional Public Service award, Phi Beta Kappa, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and Distinguished Eagle Scout. The Main Belt asteroid 1082 TomJones is named in his honor.
Tom served on the NASA Advisory Council, and is a board member of the Association of Space Explorers and the Astronauts Memorial Foundation. As a senior research scientist at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, he focuses on the future direction of human space exploration, uses of asteroid and space resources, and planetary defense. A frequent public speaker, he appears frequently on TV and radio with expert commentary on science and space flight.
You can learn more at his website: www.AstronautTomJones.com
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VIDEO | Asteroid Day 2017 | Kennedy Space Center
Tom Jones
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VIDEO | Asteroid Day 2018 | National Air and Space Museum
Cheryl Reed, Program Manager, John Hopkins
Jim Zimbelman, Geologist, NASM
Lindley Johnson, Planetary Defense Officer, NASA
Kelly Fast, NEO Observation Program Manager, NASA
Tom Jones, NEO Committee Chair, ASE
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HOST AN ASTEROID DAY EVENT TODAY!
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Asteroid Day is made possible by our major sponsors and support from individuals. To support asteroid education around the globe please consider making a gift today.
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
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