[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-579abc80-458a-43b5-90b5-efa821d39207″ custom_padding=”4px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-579abc80-458a-43b5-90b5-efa821d39207%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][dsm_breadcrumbs _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/dsm_breadcrumbs][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#071419″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _dynamic_attributes=”link_option_url” _module_preset=”7422ebdd-0582-466b-b4d2-043918857130″ background_color=”#000000″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.unistellar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/exoplanet-star-600×401-1.jpeg” background_size=”initial” link_option_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9ibG9nIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjI1MTI0NyJ9fQ==@” link_option_url_new_window=”on” header_text_shadow_style=”preset5″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-20px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Read the 1st Blog in this Series<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _dynamic_attributes=”link_option_url” _module_preset=”7422ebdd-0582-466b-b4d2-043918857130″ background_color=”#000000″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.unistellar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/JWST1-1.jpeg” background_size=”initial” link_option_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9ibG9nIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjI1MTUzMiJ9fQ==@” link_option_url_new_window=”on” header_text_shadow_style=”preset5″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-20px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Read the 2nd Blog in this Series<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-579abc80-458a-43b5-90b5-efa821d39207″ global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-579abc80-458a-43b5-90b5-efa821d39207%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-direction: row;||align-items: center;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Planetary defense<\/a>, the branch of science that focuses on protecting the Earth from near-Earth asteroid (NEA) and comet impacts that could have catastrophic consequences, has been in the spotlight this past year. From the movie Don\u2019t Look Up<\/a> to the successful DART mission<\/a> crashing into and deflecting a near-Earth asteroid (for practice), perilous space rocks are having a moment. And the Unistellar Network has been too! <\/span>Citizen Astronomers have been hard at work observing NEAs in 2022, with the biggest, most record-setting year for the Unistellar Planetary Defense program yet.<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.unistellar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/5.png” alt=”NASA’s DART: Double Asteroid Redirection Test” title_text=”5″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” width=”69%” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n By studying NEAs, scientists can better understand their characteristics and potential hazards, and develop strategies for detecting and deflecting any objects that pose a threat to our planet. However, there are tons of NEAs floating around out there, and astronomers often need more data than they alone can take to track asteroid orbits. That\u2019s where the global network of Unistellar Citizen Astronomers, armed with their fleet of eVscopes and eQuinoxes, can help!<\/span><\/p>\n Unistellar network members set a world record in 2022, as the <\/i>citizen science network contributing the most datasets to the official repository for NEA information, known as the Minor Planet Center (MPC).<\/strong> Over one year alone, they helped to submit 542 reports on 32 different asteroids to the MPC database. In total, 172 dedicated citizen astronomers took nearly 1,000 observations of our rocky neighbors. That\u2019s a lot of asteroid action! This data can be used to help determine an asteroid\u2019s shape, as well as whether its orbit should sound the Earthly alarms.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” make_equal=”on” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Last year\u2019 impressive results also include the rotation period of asteroid 1989JA, or how far it takes the asteroid to spin on its axis. Previously astronomers only knew that this NEA takes less than 12 hours to rotate, but with the help of the Unistellar Network and SETI researchers, we now know that 1989JA spins much faster \u2013 it only takes about 2.5 hours to complete a rotation!<\/span><\/p>\n Citizen Astronomers submitted 73 observations of this asteroid over several weeks, making the rotation determination possible. This achievement, along with the record-breaking number of observations and reports this past year, is a testament to the power of citizen science and the impact that individual contributions can have on important scientific research. Anyone can help protect our planet from potential asteroid impacts.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.unistellar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/movie_defense1989JA_20220524_e7m8ka.gif” title_text=”movie_defense1989JA_20220524_e7m8ka” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”53%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” min_height=”100px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” align=”center” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#B3B3B3″ custom_margin=”-11px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n\u00a0A Year in Citizen Science: Observers Break Record Watching JWST<\/h3>\n
Unistellar Network is the Largest Citizen Science Contributor of NEA Data<\/b><\/h3>\n
An Asteroid Rotates Faster than We Thought<\/b><\/h3>\n