Introduction

Every so often, you hear in the news about an asteroid that is passing close to Earth. Or maybe you’ve seen a movie about a killer asteroid headed our way, with catastrophic consequences if it hits us. Are there asteroids out there that might hit us? How do astronomers find them?

Early detection of an asteroid that may pose a threat to Earth allows scientists more time to accurately determine its orbit and properties, and then choose the most effective intervention strategy. The NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory excels at discovering new asteroids because it monitors large areas of the sky every night and can detect very dim moving objects. In this investigation, you will learn how to determine the orbit and size of a newly-discovered asteroid and decide if it poses a threat to Earth.