Planetary Defense

The threat of near-Earth objects is not science fiction. Lowell Observatory plays a critical role in planetary defense by detecting, tracking, and characterizing potentially hazardous asteroids. Lowell’s astronomers develop strategies to help prevent catastrophic impacts through ongoing observation and precise orbital analysis.

Our involvement in NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) serves as a prime example of this work. It was a first-of-its-kind mission to test whether a spacecraft could change the orbit of an asteroid. Using the Lowell Discovery Telescope, Lowell’s team, led by Dr. Nick Moskovitz, gathered vital data on the Didymos-Dimorphos system both before and after impact. These observations helped confirm that the impact shortened Dimorphos’s orbit, validating the redirection concept for the first time. 

What makes Lowell’s contribution unique is the power of the Lowell Discovery Telescope combined with our long-standing experience tracking asteroids. The sustained access to time on the Lowell Discovery Telescope allows us to pinpoint asteroid locations more precisely and refine models of their motion, giving us the best chance of early warning and threat assessment.

Our future in this field involves expanded survey efforts and refined measurement techniques alongside space agencies and global research institutions. We are building the foundational systems that identify threats long before they become disasters.