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Shoemaker Near-Earth Object Grant Program
April 17, 2013
Just Announced the 2013 Shoemaker NEO Grant Recipients
There were 16 proposers from 10 countries with five winners (of those, 3 are previous Shoemaker NEO winners) receiveing $34,307!
To find and track near-Earth objects (NEOs) to determine which -- if any -- pose a threat to our world, The Planetary Society has established the Gene Shoemaker Near Earth Object Grants. Shoemaker grants are awarded to amateur observers, observers in developing countries, and professional astronomers who, with seed funding, can greatly increase their programs' contributions to NEO research.
Grant recipients have played critical roles in tracking small asteroids that were discovered by major asteroid survey programs, and providing the crucial follow-up observations to determine precise orbits for these objects. They have also contributed NEO discoveries and characterizations of the properties of NEOs. Through these observations and others, supported by Society members and their donations, the Society is playing an active role in helping to ‘retire’ some of the risk of impact from NEOs and to reveal the properties of these interesting and valuable targets for future exploration.
The program honors pioneering planetary geologist Gene Shoemaker, who did so much to help us understand the process of impact cratering on the planets and the nature of the NEO population, and seeks to assist amateur observers, observers in developing countries, and under-funded professional observers contributing to vital NEO research.
Since founding the grant program in 1997, The Planetary Society has awarded 38 Shoemaker NEO grants totaling more than $235,000 to observers from 16 different countries on 5 continents. You can follow the efforts of past grant recipients through their contributions to the Planetary Society Blog and the Planetary Radio podcast.
If you are interested in seeing what the process is for proposing for a Shoemaker NEO Grant, you may see the last round's Call for Proposals for more information and How to Submit a Proposal for submission details, and the rest of this section and this blog for additional background. The last round of proposals was due February 4, 2013.
Project Updates
Determining Near Earth Asteroids’ Properties from the California Desert
Posted by Bruce Betts on 2013/08/05 05:04 CDT | 2 comments
Shoemaker NEO Grant winner Bob Stephens specializes in lightcurves of near Earth asteroids to determine their physical properties. Here is an update on recent progress using his 2013 Planetary Society grant. This is the first in a series of updates on Shoemaker NEO Grant winners.
Found a Killer Asteroid? Who Ya Gonna Call?
Posted by Mat Kaplan on 2013/07/08 04:19 CDT
Astronomer Timothy Spahr directs the Minor Planet Center, the global clearinghouse for asteroids, comets and other relatively small objects in the solar system, including moons. He also coordinates the Society's Shoemaker NEO grant program.
Planetary Society Hangout: LaserBees, Asteroids, and Planet Vacuums
Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/06/13 12:39 CDT | 1 comments
We check in with Dr. Bruce Betts, our Director of Projects, on the latest from our current programs funded by our members.
Planetary Defense Conference 2013 Part 2
Posted by Bruce Betts on 2013/05/29 05:25 CDT
Second part of a three part wrap up to April's Planetary Defense Conference: a report on Planetary Shoemaker NEO Grant related activities and people at the Planetary Defense Conference 2013
Planetary Society Weekly Hangout: the Giant ALMA Observatory, and Asteroid Tracking
Posted by Bruce Betts on 2013/03/20 01:31 CDT
Bruce Betts, Mat Kaplan, and asteroid tracker Robert Holmes on the Planetary Society Weekly Google Hangout. Mat discussed and showed pictures from his trip to the giant ALMA observatory and we'll be joined by asteroid tracker extraordinaire, Robert Holmes.
The Sky Was Falling! A Meteoric Airburst Over Russia and the Encounter with 2012 DA14
Posted by Mat Kaplan on 2013/02/18 03:27 CST
SEE IT NOW: The Planetary Society's CEO, Bill Nye the Science Guy, joined Director of Projects Bruce Betts for a live webcast as 2012 DA14, a 45-meter asteroid, was passing Earth. Bill and Bruce also marveled at video of the meteor burst high over a city in Russia.
BREAKING: Meteor fall causes damage in Russia [UPDATED]
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/02/15 01:44 CST | 11 comments
A large meteor streaked through the skies above Russia on the morning of Feb 15th, causing a deafening sonic boom that shattered windows and injured hundreds.
Guide to Asteroid 2012 DA14 Super Close Approach
Posted by Bruce Betts on 2013/02/04 01:46 CST | 17 comments
The 45 meter asteroid 2012 DA14 will pass closer to Earth than geostationary satellites on Feb. 15, 2013. Learn about the asteroid and what to expect from the close approach.
Shoemaker Winner Hug Discovers Near Earth Asteroid 2013 AS27
Posted by Bruce Betts on 2013/01/10 04:43 CST | 8 comments
Using a Planetary Society provided camera, Gary Hug in Kansas, USA discovered Potentially Hazardous Asteroid 2013 AS27 on Jan. 7, 2013. Shoemaker winner Bob Holmes provided the first follow up observations of this 140m-310m wide asteroid.
Calling (Really Serious) Asteroid Hunters
Posted by Bruce Betts on 2012/11/19 10:06 CST | 9 comments
I am happy to announce a new call for proposals for The Planetary Society’s Gene Shoemaker Near Earth Object (NEO) grant program, which is celebrating its 15th Anniversary. Proposals are due Feb. 4, 2013.
More on NEO Grants
Video guide to the February 15, 2013 Close Pass by Asteroid 2012 DA14
Planetary Society Director of Projects Bruce Betts reassures us in this brief and fascinating video explanation of what will happen--and what won't happen--when this big asteroid comes closer to Earth than many satellites.
Tim Spahr of the Minor Planet Center
07/08/2013 | 28:50
Guests
- Timothy Spahr, Director, Minor Planet Center, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
There’s a place to go when you find a space rock headed our way, or headed any which way. Tim Spahr directs the Minor Planet Center, the global clearinghouse for all information about asteroids, comets and other relatively small bodies like moons.
Saving Earth: Asteroid Emergency Tabletop Exercise at the 2013 PDC
05/06/2013 | 41:37
Guests
- Bill Ailor, Director of the Aerospace Corporation's Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies
- Lindley Johnson, NASA
- Debbie Lewis, Director, Axiom
- Edward Lu, Chairman and CEO, B612 Foundation
- Cathy Plesko, Applied Physics Research Scientist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Rusty Schweickart, B612 Foundation Chairman and Apollo 9 Astronaut
- Don Yeomans, Manager of NASA's Near Earth Object Program Office
The last installment of our Planetary Defense Conference coverage makes a deep impact as hundreds of attendees participate in an asteroid mitigation exercise. You’ll hear from astronauts Ed Lu and Rusty Schweikart, Near Earth Object expert Don Yeomans, Cathy Plesko of the Los Alamos National Laboratory and many more.
Planetcast Webcast: Asteroid 2012 DA 14 AND the Meteor Airburst
Guests
- Bruce Betts, Director of Projects, The Planetary Society
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
- Jaime Nomen, astronomer, Observatorio Astronómico de La Sagra (La Sagra Observatory)
Watch the recording of our popular webcast about these two historic events, featuring Bill Nye and Bruce Betts.
Looking Back, Looking Forward: Beginning a New Year In Space
12/31/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Bruce Betts, Director of Projects, The Planetary Society
- Casey Dreier, Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator, The Planetary Society
- Emily Lakdawalla, Senior Editor and Planetary Evangelist, The Planetary Society
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
Planetary Society experts review the challenges and triumphs of 2012 and look forward to a new and exciting year. You’ll hear Bill Nye the Science Guy, Emily Lakdawalla on new missions, Casey Dreier on “Saving our Science,” and Bruce Betts’ review of great projects, as well as a musical rendition of “Random Space Fact.”
Kindred Spirits: Alison Gibbings and Carolyn Shoemaker at the Planetary Defense Conference
04/29/2013 | 28:50
Guests
- Alison Gibbings, Laser Bees Researcher, University of Glasgow
- Carolyn Shoemaker, Astronomer
Our special coverage of the PDC continues with two planetary scientists separated by almost 60 years in age, but with similar dedication and enthusiasm for saving the planet.
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