Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

House Votes to Reward Asteroid Chasers
The Miami Herald ^ | 3/3/04

Posted on 03/03/2004 4:51:59 PM PST by LibWhacker

WASHINGTON - Amateur astronomers could receive awards of $3,000 for discovering and tracking near-Earth asteroids under legislation approved by the House Wednesday.

"Given the vast number of asteroids and comets that inhabits Earth's neighborhood, greater efforts for tracking and monitoring these objects are critical," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., sponsor of the legislation that passed 404-1.

Astronomers estimate there are between 900 and 1,100 near-Earth asteroids with a diameter of at least one kilometer - about six-tenths of a mile - or larger. Of those, nearly 700 already have been discovered and cataloged.

Asteroids capable of inflicting damage on a global scale hit the Earth roughly every million years. An asteroid is believed responsible for wiping out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

The bill, which still needs Senate action, directs the NASA administrator to make the awards, based on recommendations by the Smithsonian Minor Planet Center.

One award is to be issued annually to the amateur astronomer or group of amateurs who in the previous year discovered the intrinsically brightest, near-Earth asteroid. Another award would go to the amateur who makes the greatest contribution to the Minor Planet Center's mission of cataloguing near-Earth asteroids.

The bill is named after Pete Conrad, the third man to walk on the moon. The lone dissenting vote was Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: asteroid; earth; near; reward
Three grand? Time to drag out the telescope.
1 posted on 03/03/2004 4:52:01 PM PST by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
If the Fed is placing a bounty, the danger is real.
2 posted on 03/03/2004 4:55:00 PM PST by Spruce
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
But will I have time to spend the money if I find a really good example?
3 posted on 03/03/2004 4:56:53 PM PST by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch is der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
"An asteroid is believed responsible for wiping out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago."

Bush knew.

4 posted on 03/03/2004 4:59:59 PM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
Where in the Constitution is Congress given the authority to appropriate money to chase asteroids? (/sarcasm)
5 posted on 03/03/2004 5:01:03 PM PST by My2Cents ("Well...there you go again.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites
LOL...Not only did he know, but Haliburton wiped out the dinosaurs to create the oil industry.
6 posted on 03/03/2004 5:01:54 PM PST by My2Cents ("Well...there you go again.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
One other thing. The person who finds it gets to name it, right? I want to name it after Hillary. She's a vicious, lifesucking b*tch from where there is no escape.
7 posted on 03/03/2004 5:02:28 PM PST by WinOne4TheGipper (Don't tell jigsaw I said this...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
Most comets are or used to be discovered by amateurs. Even the most zealous might find only a couple in their lifetime. The money might get a few more looking for a while, but there won't be many payouts.
8 posted on 03/03/2004 5:04:06 PM PST by RightWhale (Theorems link concepts; proofs establish links)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
I saw a big green shooting star above South Texas a few weeks back, does that count for anything?
9 posted on 03/03/2004 5:31:54 PM PST by SwinneySwitch (The Barbarians are Inside the Gates!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites
Of course he did. It was all a set up to line the pockets of his oil buddies 65 million years later.
10 posted on 03/03/2004 5:44:25 PM PST by kenth (My kingdom for a cheeseburger!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: My2Cents
Doh! That'll teach me not to read all the responsed before I post.
11 posted on 03/03/2004 5:45:50 PM PST by kenth (My kingdom for a cheeseburger!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker; RadioAstronomer; Sabertooth; petuniasevan; KevinDavis
Space ping.
12 posted on 03/03/2004 5:55:25 PM PST by farmfriend ( Isaiah 55:10,11)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
Liberal Media Headline:

Asteroid to Collide With Earth--Bush Policies and SUV's Blamed


13 posted on 03/03/2004 6:03:32 PM PST by The Great RJ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Doctor Stochastic
LOL!
14 posted on 03/03/2004 6:53:10 PM PST by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SwinneySwitch
Absolutely, those smoldering meteorites are worth their weight in gold!
15 posted on 03/03/2004 6:55:19 PM PST by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
Wonder if each amateur find results in 3000.00 pay dock for NASA/JPL employee on watch who should have discovered it.
16 posted on 03/03/2004 7:03:28 PM PST by txhurl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
Three grand? Time to drag out the telescope.

$3,000? The House's generosity is underwhelming. To do it up right, that sum would not pay for the telescope, CCD and computer system required. The odds against an amateur visually discovering a near-Earth asteroid seem, well, astronomical.

17 posted on 03/03/2004 7:19:42 PM PST by ngc6656 (Freepaholics Anonymous advisory: Don't freep and drive.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ngc6656
Not only that, but it looks like the award will only go the the amateur who finds the brightest near-earth asteroid, or catalogs the greatest number of asteroids. Have to check the fine print.

Still . . . think of all the fun you'd have sitting up all night shivering! And don't forget -- previously, the prize was zippo. :-)

18 posted on 03/03/2004 7:43:21 PM PST by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
Thank God for Ron Paul.

L

19 posted on 03/03/2004 7:46:14 PM PST by Lurker (Don't bite the hand that meads you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
The lone dissenting vote was Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas.

Thank God at least one of our putz politicians is familiar with the Constitution.

20 posted on 03/03/2004 7:48:44 PM PST by Hank Rearden (Never let your life be directed by people who could only get government jobs.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson