House Votes to Reward Asteroid Chasers

The Miami Herald ^ | 3/3/04

[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.

[LibWhacker]

Three grand? Time to drag out the telescope.

[Spruce]

If the Fed is placing a bounty, the danger is real.

[Doctor Stochastic]

But will I have time to spend the money if I find a really good example?

[billorites]

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

Bush knew.

[My2Cents]

Where in the Constitution is Congress given the authority to appropriate money to chase asteroids? (/sarcasm)

[My2Cents]

LOL...Not only did he know, but Haliburton wiped out the dinosaurs to create the oil industry.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

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.

[RightWhale]

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.

[SwinneySwitch]

I saw a big green shooting star above South Texas a few weeks back, does that count for anything?

[kenth]

Of course he did. It was all a set up to line the pockets of his oil buddies 65 million years later.

[kenth]

Doh! That'll teach me not to read all the responsed before I post.

[farmfriend]

Space ping.

[The Great RJ]

Liberal Media Headline:

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

[LibWhacker]

LOL!

[LibWhacker]

Absolutely, those smoldering meteorites are worth their weight in gold!

[txhurl]

Wonder if each amateur find results in 3000.00 pay dock for NASA/JPL employee on watch who should have discovered it.

[ngc6656]

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.

[LibWhacker]

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. :-)

[Lurker]

Thank God for Ron Paul.

L

[Hank Rearden]

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

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