The NSS Iowa Chapter meeting presentation on October 16, available world-wide via Zoom, will feature speaker Dan Hoy, local NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador and NSS Iowa Chapter Treasurer. Please join us in-person or via Zoom for his presentation:
Title: “Asteroid Autumn: Three Missions. Three Targets”
Date and Time: Monday, October 16. 5:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time
Location: DMACC West Campus, 5959 Grand Ave., West Des Moines
Join Zoom Meeting: https://DMACC.zoom.us/j/95123855678
Meeting ID: 951 2385 5678
NASA has declared September, October, and November “Asteroid Autumn,” as three missions to Solar System asteroids have major milestones. The OSIRIS-REx mission recently returned its sample of Near Earth Asteroid “Bennu” to Earth, and it continues on an extended mission to asteroid Apophis, renamed OSIRIS-APEX. A second mission, Psyche, is set to launch between October 12 and October 25 to the large Main Belt Asteroid 16 Psyche, the first visit to a metal asteroid. Then, in early November, the Lucy mission to the Trojan Asteroids orbiting with planet Jupiter will encounter Main Belt asteroid Dinkinesh on November 1 to test and calibrate its equipment on the way to its ultimate targets.
Dan Hoy has a keen interest in small bodies of the Solar System, and recently returned from a two-day experience witnessing the return of the OSIRIS-REx mission’s asteroid sample. Dan served as one of twelve social media influencers selected by spacecraft fabricator and operator Lockheed Martin to tour its facilities, hear from mission personnel, watch the mission’s final hours, and share the excitement on social media. Dan will share highlights of the three “Asteroid Autumn” missions, as well as some other recent and future expeditions to asteroids.
