The Comet and Asteroid Information Network

STATEMENT OF INTENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Spaceguard UK has been, since 1997, the prime source of information on Near Earth Objects in Great Britain, and has recently established the privately funded Spaceguard Centre at the former Powys Observatory.  The Spaceguard Centre acts as a focus for the dissemination of accurate and timely information to the public, media and decision makers.  The Spaceguard Centre has the endorsement of the international NEO research community and has been appointed The International Spaceguard Information Centre by the IAU supported Spaceguard Foundation.

The Spaceguard Centre is establishing a nationwide network of Regional Comet and Asteroid Information Centres (known as CAIN) covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in collaboration with an initial partnership that includes The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, The Eden Project, Glamorgan University, The Glasgow Science Centre, Herstmonceux Science Centre, Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre, Liverpool John Moores University, Roseland Observatory and Techniquest.

The government will soon be announcing the location of their National NEO Information Centre, and they will be very welcome to join.  CAIN will primarily be a dispersed organisation for the dissemination of information, but will also be involved in research activities related to NEOs.  Regional Centres will act as information nodes for media and public enquiries (using resources provided by The Spaceguard Centre) and may host physical exhibitions if resources permit.  CAIN will provide information and support to the Regional Centres by physical and electronic means.

Further centres will be introduced as the project progresses and CAIN will expand to include other national Spaceguard organisations around the world.

INTRODUCTION

1.1        Background.  

Over the past decade it has become apparent that asteroidal and cometary impacts have played a dramatic, possibly dominant role in the development of this planet, and the evolution of life. There is every reason to believe that this extraterrestrial influence is still present, and the possibility that a major impact could severely disrupt, or even destroy our current way of life on a global scale is one to be taken very seriously.

The threat posed to mankind by the impact of an asteroid or comet is now widely recognised as one of the most significant risks to human civilisation, yet this is one major natural hazard that could, with sufficient resourcing, be predicted with a high level of precision and prevented.  

There is growing public and media interest in the impact hazard, and this interest has generated an increasing number of enquiries from the press, members of the public and from politicians and members of the business community.  There is, however, a dearth of easily accessible and reliable information, so there is a clear need for a credible, knowledgeable source to satisfy this burgeoning requirement.

1.2        Government Involvement.

In January 2000, as a direct result of the Spaceguard UK campaign, the British government established a Task Force to investigate the gravity of the impact hazard, and ways in which the level of risk could be reduced.  The Task Force validated the extent of the hazard and one of its main recommendations was:

We recommend that one of the most important functions of a British Centre for Near Earth Objects be to provide a public service which would give balanced information in clear, direct and comprehensible language as need might arise. Such a service must respond to very different audiences: on the one hand Parliament, the general public and the media; and on the other the academic, scientific and environmental communities. In all of this, full use should be made of the Internet.

The BNSC has been nominated as the lead government department, and is in the process of establishing a National NEO Information Centre.  CAIN will offer full co-operation and collaboration with the National NEO Information Centre.

1.3.       Spaceguard UK.

Spaceguard UK is an organisation that has, for the past five years, been the primary contact for the public and media on matters concerning Near Earth Objects (NEOs).  It is dedicated to the public understanding of the NEO impact hazard and promotion of the international Spaceguard programme.  Since its establishment in January 1997 Spaceguard UK has grown into one of the largest national Spaceguard organisations in the world.  Its Visiting and Associate members include most of the world's experts in NEO studies, who together provide a tremendous source of knowledge and experience.  It is on this bedrock of expertise that its success is based.  Spaceguard UK has an established reputation for accuracy, timeliness and reliability as witnessed by its extensive coverage in the printed and broadcast media, and its high reputation amongst the section of the scientific community concerned with NEO studies.

Three years of activity at various levels resulted in an adjournment debate, introduced by Lembit Öpik MP, on the subject of the Spaceguard project in the House of Commons on 3 March 1999 and a question in the House of Lords in June of the same year.  A team from Spaceguard UK put the case for a feasibility study into the establishment of a British NEO research programme to the minister responsible, Lord Sainsbury, on 8 July 1999.  The minister agreed to establish a Task Force that began its deliberations in January 2000.  Spaceguard UK advised the group in its work.  Their report, published in September 2000, is widely recognised as providing an exceptional assessment of the potential hazard posed by comets and asteroids and possible methods of reducing the risk.  It also made fourteen substantive recommendations for British government action, and these are under consideration at ministerial level now.  Thanks to these efforts the UK is poised to take a lead in the international Spaceguard project.

Jonathan Tate, the director of the Spaceguard Centre, is a member of the Board of Directors of the international Spaceguard Foundation (SGF), a member of the Executive Committee of the Space Development Council (SDC), a member of the Space Education Council (SEC), a consultant to the International Astronomical Union Working Group on Near Earth Objects (IAU WGNEO), an associate of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) (Panel 3) and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (FRAS).   To date he has delivered over 80 lectures countrywide and abroad to astronomical societies, schools, universities and professional organisations.  In addition, Tate has participated in many television and radio broadcasts, featured in newspaper and magazine articles and had over 30 articles published in professional and popular journals both in the UK and overseas.

1.4.       The Spaceguard Centre.

The Spaceguard Centre was established at the former Powys County Observatory in mid-Wales, with the a vision that is encapsulated in the Mission Statement, which is as follows:

“To develop and maintain a world-class facility for astronomical research and Public Understanding of Science with a specific emphasis on Solar System astronomy and the Spaceguard project.”

The Spaceguard Centre is a new and expanding resource for public education in astronomy and Earth science.  It caters for schools and the general public, including special interest groups, cultural tourism visits and groups having particular social needs, such as mental/physical disabilities, age, unemployment etc.

Links have already been established with the National Schools Observatory programme and the Liverpool Telescope Project that will give the Spaceguard Centre access to data from three robotic telescopes in Hawaii, the Canaries and Australia via the Internet.  The Spaceguard Centre will be a key part of UK Public Understanding of Science, Engineering and Technology (PUSET).

1.5.       Technical Consultants.

The Spaceguard Centre has ready access to technical expertise from organisations such as the NASA/JPL NEO Project Office, the MPC, the Spaceguard Foundation and the IAU WGNEO.  These organisations form the nucleus of a network of technical consultants supporting the Spaceguard Centre and the Regional Centres.  PerfectArc Ltd have been appointed as IT and Internet consultants.

1.6.       Contacts.

The Spaceguard Network inherits the numerous contacts and supporters of Spaceguard UK.  These include individuals such as Sir Arthur C Clarke, Sir Patrick Moore, Sir Crispin Tickell and Sir Bernard Lovell who are all patrons.  In addition, the majority of the active scientists in the field of Near Earth Object studies around the world are members of Spaceguard UK.  Support has also been received from Members of both Houses of Parliament, the Welsh Assembly, academic institutions and commercial organisations.  In addition to the extensive membership in Great Britain there are members of Spaceguard UK in 21 countries around the world, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, the People’s Republic of China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, New Zealand, Russia, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Ukraine, Uruguay and the USA. 

1.7.       The International Spaceguard Information Centre.

In August 2001 the Rome based Spaceguard Foundation (SGF), formed as a result of decisions taken by Commission 20 of the International Astronomical Union and the IAU WGNEO selected The Spaceguard Centre in mid-Wales to become the central point of contact for those scientists that deal with the NEO hazard worldwide.  Using the extensive network of contacts around the world developed by Spaceguard UK over the past five years, The Spaceguard Centre is ideally placed to provide such a service.  Astronomers in the USA, Japan, Europe and Russia as well as in the UK have already welcomed this appointment. 

AIM

2. The aim of CAIN is to provide timely, accurate and unbiased information on the subject of Near Earth Objects, the hazard posed to the Earth, the methods by which the risk can be reduced and current space policy issues to the public, politicians, decision makers and the media.

ROLE & TASKS

3.1.       Introduction.

The Spaceguard Centre will establish CAIN with Regional Centres in Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England.  Additional institutions have committed themselves to becoming Regional Centres once the initial system has been established, and further resources become available.

The Spaceguard Centre in Wales will be the focus of operations and will co-ordinate exhibits and information with the other establishments acting as Regional Centres.  This will ensure that information is readily accessible to the greatest number of people, achieving a distributed countrywide coverage.

3.2.       Primary Roles.

3.2.1.    Advisory service to the public.

CAIN will communicate background issues to the public in a factual, objective and impartial manner using printed and broadcast media.  Government sponsored organisations are unable to be totally impartial, especially in respect or matters relating to UK space policy.  It will also offer visits to the Spaceguard Centre and selected Regional Centres, deliver public lectures and make full use of the Internet.   Spaceguard UK and its associates have been doing this since 1997, and have had considerable success in the field, as demonstrated by feedback and media coverage.

CAIN and the Regional Centres will continue to develop and provide educational resources (e.g. education packs) relating to NEOs.  These will include paper based learning material, CD ROMs and posters with information and images relating to NEOs.  The Spaceguard Centre is progressing this programme at present as it develops its own resources, in collaboration with external agencies in the UK and abroad.

CAIN and its Regional Centres will continue to respond directly to public postal, telephone or Internet enquiries – a function already performed by Spaceguard UK and its associates with a high degree of success.  They will also maintain up to date links to publicly accessible catalogues of NEOs through the Spaceguard Foundation (SGF Central Node), The NEO Dynamic Site (NEODyS) and the Minor Planet Center (MPC). 

3.2.2.    Advisory service to the media.

CAIN will communicate background issues to the media in an objective and impartial manner.  Government sponsored organisations are unable to be totally impartial, especially in respect or matters relating to UK space policy.  Spaceguard UK performs this function at present, and has been doing so since its establishment.  The Regional Centres have also developed media contacts and have exceptional records of engagement with the media over many years.  In a case where the Spaceguard Centre is unavailable, a nominated Regional Centre will assume the role of focus.

CAIN and the Regional Centres will continue to develop and provide media resources relating to NEOs.  Those already developed by Spaceguard UK will be adapted where appropriate.  New material will be produced as required.

CAIN and the Regional Centres will respond directly to media enquiries, as Spaceguard UK has been doing for the past five years.  In addition they will maintain the panel of recognised experts developed by Spaceguard UK who can be called upon for media interviews.

3.2.3.    Advisory service to HMG.

CAIN, together with its panel of recognised experts and international contacts including the SGF and the MPC, will provide prompt and timely advice to the UK government on all aspects of the NEO risk, in an objective and impartial manner.

3.3.       Liaison with professionals around the UK and internationally.

CAIN will liaise with other science centres & museums, and continue to develop the work already started by the Centre and Spaceguard UK.  There will initially be at least eight Regional Centres hosted by established science centres or educational facilities in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  After consultation with the Regional Centres materials and exhibits will be distributed from the hub in Powys as funded, coherent packages.

CAIN will continue to maintain established, and create new links for the public, media, scientists, projects and institutions, utilising the extensive network of contacts already developed by Spaceguard UK.  The establishment of additional Regional Centres once the phase one consortium is functioning is an integral part of the plan. 

The Spaceguard Centre will establish an annual conference for in-service training and review, at which progress relating to NEOs will be discussed and disseminated.

3.4.       International Partners.

Membership of the network will be extended into the international arena as CAIN expands overseas.  Organisations in the following countries have already agreed to participation: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Russia and the USA.  Phase 2 participants include Belgium, Croatia, the People’s Republic of China, Finland, France, New Zealand, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Ukraine and Uruguay.

FACILITIES & FUNCTIONS

Two primary facilities will be provided by CAIN: one physical, in the form of permanent exhibitions around the country and paper based information; the other virtual (and international) in nature, in the form of a comprehensive website.

4.1.       Information Dissemination Function.

4.1.1.    Web Based Material.

The existing Spaceguard UK website provides background information on asteroids and comets and explains related terminology.  The site also presents information on the environmental effects of NEO impacts and identifies both past impacts on the Earth and predicted close approaches.  The site will also present a series of FAQs and an updated list of impending close approaches derived from scientific sources.  The Spaceguard Centre will maintain this existing site and enhance it with additional information, making it more public-friendly.  PerfectArc Ltd will provide the technical expertise in this area.  The information on the website is verified and coordinated with complementary information presented by organisations such as:

Primary Sources:

       The Minor Planet Centre (MPC) at the SAO (Marsden, Williams)

       NASA’s NEO Program Office at JPL (Yeomans)

       The Near Earth Objects Dynamic web-site at the University of Pisa (Milani)

       The European Asteroid Research Node (Hahn)

       Armagh Observatory (Bailey, Napier, Asher)

       Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (Chernykh)

       DLR (Hahn, Harris)

       Institute of Applied Astronomy of RAS (Shor)

       Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Helin, Rabinowitz, Harris, Chodas, Pravdo)

       Klet Observatory (Ticha)

       Los Alamos National Laboratory (Canavan)

       Lowell Observatory (Bowell)

       Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Binzel)

       National Schools Observatory (Bode, Newsam)

       Natural History Museum (Grady, Genge)

       Oxford University (Wall)

       Queen's University Belfast (Baillie, Fitzsimmons)

       Salford University (Steel, Tickell)

       Japan Spaceguard Association / Bisei Spaceguard Center (Isobe)

       Spacewatch (Gehrels, Scotti, McMillan)

       The Japanese NAO/Kiso Schmidt (Isobe)

       The Open University (Green, Zarnecki)

       University of Arizona (Larson, McMillan)

       University of California (Alvarez)

       University of Cardiff (Wickramasinghe, Napier)

       University of Manchester (Lyon)

       University of Maryland (A'Hearn)

       University of Northern Arizona (Shoemaker)

       University of Pisa (Milani)

       University of Western Ontario (Brown)

       US Naval Observatory (Seidelmann)

Secondary Sources/Commentators:

       Armagh Planetarium

       Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University (Bode)

       Glasgow Science Centre (Di Maggio)

       Liverpool John Moores University (Peiser)

       NASA Ames Research Centre, Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazards web-site (Morrison)

       Space Development Council (Nimmo)

       Space Education Council (Moller)

       Space Frontier Foundation (Tumlinson)

       Spaceguard Australia (Steel)

       Spaceguard Canada (Balam)

       Spaceguard Croatia

       Spaceguard Germany (Gritzner)

       The Watch (Godwin)

       UKAEA (Holloway)

       University of Leeds (Bowler)

       University of London Observatory (Dworetsky)

International Agencies:

       European Space Agency

       International Astronomical Union (Rickman)

       IAU WGNEO (Morrison)

       The Spaceguard Foundation, (Carusi, Marsden)

The information presented on the site will be regularly updated, with dynamic links, including in particular:

       Information detailing known NEOs including size distributions and number discovered. (MPC, NASA/JPL)

       Information listing Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) covering a defined timescale into the future. (MPC, NEODyS)

       Information listing objects determined to have a possibility of intersection with the orbit of the Earth, an explanation of the uncertainties/errors involved, and a heritage of such discoveries explaining how observations eventually eliminate the risk. (MPC, NASA/JPL, NEODyS, University of Pisa)

The site also maintains links with new and recently published research results. This ensures that the site is seen as a valuable and up to date source of information. 

4.1.2.    Media and Public Information.

All of the resources currently available to Spaceguard UK and the Spaceguard Centre will be made available to CAIN, in the form of access to contact lists, introductions to individuals and organisations and links to suitable websites worldwide.  A 24-hour telephone and e-mail helpline will be available.

As soon as agreement is reached with Regional Centres, a press release will be issued to national media organisations containing contact details of all participating centres.

4.2.       Exhibition Function.

The Spaceguard Centre hosts, and suitable Regional Centres will host physical exhibitions communicating the broad issues associated with NEOs.  They consider the nature, number and location of asteroids and comets and demonstrate how these objects interact within our solar-terrestrial environment and how we encounter them.  The exhibition also considers the environmental effects of planetary collision with comets and asteroids and explores the history of impacts within our solar system.  In addition our exhibition explains the risks posed by NEO impact and the likelihood of occurrence, comparing them with more frequently encountered and widely understood hazards.  It details the role and value of observation from the ground for detecting and tracking NEOs and highlights the importance of missions to rendezvous with NEOs to increase understanding of their physical and dynamic characteristics.  There is a strong link with both ESA and NASA plans to explore the small bodies of the Solar System providing an added space science resonance to the NEO exhibit.  There is also a strong interactive element enabling visitors to access Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and be given pointers to further information and resources.  Currently The Spaceguard Centre provides a national focus for the public understanding of NEOs and related science.

4.3         Support for Regional Centres.

The following facilities will be available to participating Regional Centres:

     A 24/7 E-mail, telephone or fax help line.

     A specific, password protected Website containing:

§         Latest news

§         Comment

§         Forthcoming events

§         Links to relevant websites.

     Assistance with display materials if required.

     Contact lists.

§         Scientists

§         Press

     Subject Updates.

§         Conference briefings

§         Government Policy

4.4.       Other Activities.

The Spaceguard Centre is already developing educational packs (both hard copy and electronic) to facilitate the study and discussion of NEO issues and to emphasise the multidisciplinary nature of the topic. These educational packs will be consistent with, and integrate into the appropriate science elements of the National Curriculum.

The Spaceguard Centre has strong and active links with observers worldwide.  Established programmes abroad (Spacewatch, LINEAR, LONEOS, the Catalina Sky Survey, NEAT, the Japanese Spaceguard Programme, the Klet Observatory etc.) already co-operate fully with the Spaceguard Centre.  In the UK we have established links with the Faulkes and Liverpool Telescope projects, and will be fully participating in the National Schools Observatory programme.  The Faulkes Telescopes will be working directly with NEO observers and researchers, providing the Spaceguard Centre with real, timely data.  The NSO can provide direct observations of NEOs as part of national education or research projects.

MANAGEMENT PLAN

5.1.       CAIN Regional Centres will work in co-operation, with full consultation at all stages of the project.  However, there will be a single point of contact and focus of operations located at the Spaceguard Centre. 

5.2.       To support CAIN an independent Advisory Board will be established.  Membership of the board will be extended into the international arena as CAIN expands overseas.

Signed on behalf of The Spaceguard Centre.

J. R. Tate

Project Co-ordinator

Telephone:                                01547 520247

Fax:                                             01547 520247

E-mail:                                        spaceguard@spaceguarduk.com

The Spaceguard Centre is supported by NewHert Ltd.

Internet services are provided by PerfectArc Ltd.