Module 3 / Lesson 6.1

Asteroids & Comets

1 min read

This lesson introduces existential risks from near-Earth objects like asteroids and comets. You'll explore the asteroid that caused the dinosaur extinction, the differences between asteroids and comets, and how governments are tracking these risks.

Learning:
- Read The Precipice (pp. 67–73)
- Watch Video: Asteroid That Killed the Dinosaurs
- Watch Video: NASA’s DART Mission
Reflection. As you read and learn this lesson material, consider:
- What qualifies as a near-Earth object (NEO), and how do they differ from other celestial bodies?
- What happened when the asteroid hit the earth that killed the dinosaurs?
- How do scientists use past asteroid impacts to estimate future risk? What is the risk they estimate?
- How do scientists look into space to identify asteroid risks prospectively? What is the risk they estimate?
- What can we do to prevent asteroid strikes? How does the DART mission help us with this?

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