This Week's Observing Projects


	Searching for Asteroid Threats The idea of an asteroid impact with Earth is a familiar one in modern society. Popular movies brought this concept home to many. While unlikely in the near future, the threat is, in fact, real. To help ensure adequate warning of an asteroid on a collision course with Earth, NASA has established an ongoing project to discover "Near Earth Asteroids" on potentially hazardous paths.
	Reliable Clock Stars JJ Hermes, a graduate student at The University of Texas at Austin, will be observing white dwarf stars on the Otto Struve Telescope. His observations will help scientists model the pulsations of stars, discover planets orbiting them, and provide a glimpse of a rarely seen physical phenomena: gravity waves.
	Following Up On Planet Discoveries from Space McDonald Observatory astronomer Bill Cochran is following up on possible planet discoveries from NASA's Kepler mission using the 2.7-meter Harlan J. Smith Telescope at McDonald.

The 2.1-meter (82-inch) Otto Struve Telescope at the University of Texas McDonal

Searching for Asteroid Threats

The idea of an asteroid impact with Earth is a familiar one in modern society. Popular movies brought this concept home to many. While unlikely in the near future, the threat is, in fact, real.

To help ensure adequate warning of an asteroid on a collision course with Earth, NASA has established an ongoing project to discover "Near Earth Asteroids" on potentially hazardous paths.

Reliable Clock Stars

JJ Hermes, a graduate student at The University of Texas at Austin, will be observing white dwarf stars on the Otto Struve Telescope. His observations will help scientists model the pulsations of stars, discover planets orbiting them, and provide a glimpse of a rarely seen physical phenomena: gravity waves.

Following Up On Planet Discoveries from Space

McDonald Observatory astronomer Bill Cochran is following up on possible planet discoveries from NASA's Kepler mission using the 2.7-meter Harlan J. Smith Telescope at McDonald.