Did you know future resources may be coming from outer space objects?
Did you know future resources may be coming from outer space objects?
Join Mark Willman for “Young Asteroids Get the Blues” at the next Universe Tonight program at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station on Mauna Kea.
In April, a half dozen billionaires formed a company, Planetary Resources, to mine asteroids for platinum group metals and ice. Although, there are shops on Earth that sell meteorites, this is the first commercial enterprise involving the asteroids and represents a significant expansion in the territory used by humans to exploit resources.
“However, to obtain the minerals and ice in asteroids, we need to be able to identify them by remote observation. Come join us at the Visitor Information Station, as Dr. Mark Willman discusses the process of mining asteroids for resources,” said spokeswoman Janet Nathani.
The Universe Tonight is a free presentation on the first Saturday of every month, when a member of the Mauna Kea astronomy community will share their mana‘o and research with the public.