Near Earth Asteroids: on a Collision Course for Earth?

1) In the center of the paper, mark the location of the Sun.

2) Then draw a pencil line from the Sun to the edge of the paper in any direction. This will be the line you use to measure all your angles from in this exercise.

3) Now you will graph the orbits of the Earth and 1 of 6 different asteroids with near Earth orbits. (These are sometimes referred to as NEOs.) Begin with Earth. Set the center of your protractor on the Sun and the edge along your pencil line. O∞ will fall on the line. Make a dot at 15cm from the Sun. Label this point as ≥Earth: 0^th month≤.

4) Now measure 30∞ from your pencil line at a distance of15cm and make a mark. Label this point as ≥Earth:1^st month≤. Finish the Earthπs orbit in this way.

5) Connect the dots for months 0 - 13 with a smooth pencil line. You should have mapped out a complete circle.

6) Follow the same pattern for your teamπs asteroid. Measure the angle and make a mark at the appropriate distance. Label each point and then connect these marks with a smooth line. Not all the asteroids will make a complete orbit in a year; some will only be arcs. Thatπs okay.

7) Now, using your map, estimate when your asteroid crosses the earthπs orbit. Write down the month here (you may need to estimate a fraction such as ≥month 4.5≤ or ≥month 12.25≤).

Estimate:

8) Now measure the distance between Earth and your asteroid at its closest approach in centimeters. Record that distance here:

Distance at closest approach:

9) On this scale each centimeter is equal to 10,000,000km. What is the actual distance in kilometers between Earth and your asteroid on this scale? Calculate it and write your answer below.

Actual distance:

10) In your opinion does this asteroid pose a threat to Earth?

Near Earth Asteroids: on a Collision Course for Earth?

DATA CHART

	PLANET	EARTH	ASTERIOD	CASTALIA
Month	Distance	Angle	Distance	Angle
0	15 cm	0∞	8.4 cm	0∞
1	15 cm	30∞	10.8 cm	72∞
2	15 cm	60∞	14.8 cm	110∞
3	15 cm	90∞	18.2 cm	133∞
4	15 cm	120∞	20.7 cm	149∞
5	15 cm	150∞	22.4 cm	162∞
6	15 cm	180∞	23.3 cm	174∞
7	15 cm	210∞	23.3 cm	185∞
8	15 cm	240∞	22.5 cm	197∞
9	15 cm	270∞	20.9 cm	210∞
10	15 cm	300∞	18.5 cm	225∞
11	15 cm	330∞	15.2 cm	247∞
12	15 cm	0∞	11.2 cm	283∞
13	15 cm	30∞	8.5 cm	352∞

Near Earth Asteroids: on a Collision Course for Earth?

DATA CHART

	PLANET	EARTH	ASTERIOD	CEREBRUS
Month	Distance	Angle	Distance	Angle
0	15 cm	0∞	23.7 cm	322∞
1	15 cm	30∞	23.5 cm	333∞
2	15 cm	60∞	22.6 cm	344∞
3	15 cm	90∞	20.8 cm	356∞
4	15 cm	120∞	18.2 cm	11∞
5	15 cm	150∞	14.7 cm	30∞
6	15 cm	180∞	10.8 cm	59∞
7	15 cm	210∞	8.6 cm	113∞
8	15 cm	240∞	11.1 cm	192∞
9	15 cm	270∞	15 cm	244∞
10	15 cm	300∞	18.4 cm	272∞
11	15 cm	330∞	20.9 cm	290∞
12	15 cm	0∞	22.7 cm	304∞
13	15 cm	30∞	23.6 cm	317∞

Near Earth Asteroids: on a Collision Course for Earth?

DATA CHART

	PLANET	EARTH	ASTERIOD	ANTINOUS
Month	Distance	Angle	Distance	Angle
0	15 cm	0∞	30.6 cm	195∞
1	15 cm	30∞	27 cm	205∞
2	15 cm	60∞	23.1 cm	218∞
3	15 cm	90∞	19.2 cm	236∞
4	15 cm	120∞	15.6 cm	263∞
5	15 cm	150∞	13.4 cm	303∞
6	15 cm	180∞	14.1 cm	347∞
7	15 cm	210∞	17.2 cm	21∞
8	15 cm	240∞	21 cm	43∞
9	15 cm	270∞	25 cm	59∞
10	15 cm	300∞	28.8 cm	70∞
11	15 cm	330∞	32.2 cm	79∞
12	15 cm	0∞	35.4 cm	86∞
13	15 cm	30∞	38.3 cm	92∞

Near Earth Asteroids: on a Collision Course for Earth?

DATA CHART

	PLANET	EARTH	ASTERIOD	HEPHIASTOS
Month	Distance	Angle	Distance	Angle
0	15 cm	0∞	55.4 cm	50∞
1	15 cm	30∞	53.9 cm	48∞
2	15 cm	60∞	52.1 cm	46∞
3	15 cm	90∞	50.1 cm	44∞
4	15 cm	120∞	47.7 cm	42∞
5	15 cm	150∞	45.1 cm	40∞
6	15 cm	180∞	42 cm	37∞
7	15 cm	210∞	38.6 cm	33∞
8	15 cm	240∞	34.7 cm	29∞
9	15 cm	270∞	30.3 cm	24∞
10	15 cm	300∞	25.2 cm	17∞
11	15 cm	330∞	19.1 cm	6∞
12	15 cm	0∞	11.9 cm	342∞
13	15 cm	30∞	5.4 cm	240∞

Near Earth Asteroids: on a Collision Course for Earth?

DATA CHART