Asteroid 2001 FO32 with The Virtual Telescope
Asteroid 2001 FO32 with The Virtual Telescope https://asteroidday-uploads.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/29110349/SCU-social-TheVirtualTelescope-featured_image-timeless.png 900 500 Asteroid Day https://asteroidday-uploads.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/29110349/SCU-social-TheVirtualTelescope-featured_image-timeless.png
Asteroid 2001 FO32 generated a lot of interest because of its ‘close’ flyby of Earth on 21 March. Asteroid Day’s Editorial Director spoke to Dr Gianluca Masi, of the Virtual Telescope Project, to find out exactly what close means in an astronomical context, why the observation of asteroids is so special to him, and what powers his enduring fascination with the night sky.
About the speaker:
Dr Gianluca Masi is an Italian astrophysicist and international science communicator. After receiving his PhD in astronomy in 2006, he launched the Virtual Telescope Project. Through crowdsourcing, he offers real time observations sharing the Universe with the world. Masi was able to determine the date that Vincent van Gogh painted Starry Night through close observation of the stars. He is National Coordinator for Asteroid Day in Italy.
About the host:
Dr Stuart Clark is Asteroid Day’s Editorial Director. He is an award-winning science journalist and author, with a first class honours degree in astronomy and physics, a PhD in astrophysics, and an honorary DSc for “services to astronomy and the public understanding of science”. A Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in the UK, he writes the Guardian’s Starwatch and Spacewatch columns. His latest book is Beneath the Night: how the stars have shaped the history of humankind (Faber).
About Asteroid Foundation:
Asteroid Foundation was formed in 2017 with a mission to promote worldwide awareness of asteroid opportunities and challenges, and the emerging space economy. The Asteroid Foundation undertakes programmes and activities to support scientists, engineers and students around the world providing free educational tools, newsletters, original articles and resources year round. Annually, the Foundation organizes events surrounding international Asteroid Day–a United Nations recognized day of education and awareness observed on 30 June. Read more about Asteroid Foundation’s programs on their website and visit their Flickr account to see pictures from previous events.
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