## Breadcrumb

-  Astrogeology Science Center 
-  Science 

#           Planetary Defense      

  Active

      By Astrogeology Science Center      October 7, 2022    

            -              Overview           
            -              Publications           

At the USGS Astrogeology Science Center we conduct research on Planetary Defense. Planetary Defense involves predicting potential impactors (asteroids, comets), and studying how to deflect or divert them, as well as the potential effects of an impact. Effects include short-term effects such as blast damage, but also long-term effects such as climate and social impacts.

 

### Cascading Hazards from an Impact

For intermediate sized impactors (300m - 1km diameter), regional cascading effects could be equally important. These regional effects could include reoccurring hazards such as debris flows and flooding. At the USGS Astrogeology Science Center, we are studying how these potential secondary effects relate to each other, and what may be done to mitigate such effects.

View Media Details

### **Near-Earth Asteroid - Surface Characterization**

The USGS Astrogeology Science Center has provided software (Integrated Software for Imagers and Spectrometers) which has been used to support the NEAR Shoemaker, Hayabusa1, Hayabusa2, and OSIRIS-REx missions. These missions visited 433 Eros, 25143 Itokawa, 162173 Ryugu, and 101955 Bennu, respectively.  Itokawa, Ryugu, and Bennu are designated as Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs).

### Study Area

### Contacts

#### Timothy Neal Titus, Ph.D.

##### Research Space Scientist

Astrogeology Science Center

ttitus@usgs.gov

928-556-7201

#### Kaj Williams, Ph.D.

##### Research Physical Scientist

Astrogeology Science Center

kewilliams@usgs.gov

### Explore Search

                      - Earth
                      - Modeling
                      - Small Bodies
                      - Early Warnings and Alerts
                      - Earthquakes
                      - Floods
                      - Landslides
                      - Multihazards and Scenarios
                      - Science Strategy
                      - Tsunamis
                      - Wildfires
                      - Research
                      - Asteroids
                      - Atmospheres
                      - Comets
                      - Impact Crater
                      - Meteorites
                      - Meteoroids
                      - Meteors
                      - Natural Hazards
                      - Planetary Science
                      -  Meteor Crater
                      - aeolian dust
                      - social & economic

View All **

February 7, 2023

####                 A review of common natural disasters as analogs for asteroid impact effects and cascading hazards              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Astrogeology Science Center, Geologic Hazards Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Volcano Science Center

April 1, 2023

####                 National preparedness strategy & action plan for potentially hazardous near-Earth objects and planetary defense              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

November 11, 2022

####                 Apophis specific action team report              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

April 30, 2021

####                 Planetary defense preparedness: Identifying the potential for post-asteroid impact time delayed and geographically displaced hazards              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

April 30, 2021

####                 Asteroid impacts - downwind and downstream effects              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

January 1, 2005

####                 Geology of five small Australian impact craters              

June 15, 1995

####                 Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 at Jupiter              

June 25, 1994

####                 Gravity survey of the Mount Toondina impact structure, South Australia              

January 1, 1991

####                 Age and geomorphic history of Meteor Crater, Arizona, from cosmogenic 36Cl and 14C in rock varnish              

January 1, 1987

####                 Computer simulations of large asteroid impacts into oceanic and continental sites--Preliminary results on atmospheric, cratering and ejecta dynamics              

January 1, 1977

####                 Why study impact cratering?              

At the USGS Astrogeology Science Center we conduct research on Planetary Defense. Planetary Defense involves predicting potential impactors (asteroids, comets), and studying how to deflect or divert them, as well as the potential effects of an impact. Effects include short-term effects such as blast damage, but also long-term effects such as climate and social impacts.

 

### Cascading Hazards from an Impact

For intermediate sized impactors (300m - 1km diameter), regional cascading effects could be equally important. These regional effects could include reoccurring hazards such as debris flows and flooding. At the USGS Astrogeology Science Center, we are studying how these potential secondary effects relate to each other, and what may be done to mitigate such effects.

View Media Details

### **Near-Earth Asteroid - Surface Characterization**

The USGS Astrogeology Science Center has provided software (Integrated Software for Imagers and Spectrometers) which has been used to support the NEAR Shoemaker, Hayabusa1, Hayabusa2, and OSIRIS-REx missions. These missions visited 433 Eros, 25143 Itokawa, 162173 Ryugu, and 101955 Bennu, respectively.  Itokawa, Ryugu, and Bennu are designated as Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs).

### Study Area

### Contacts

#### Timothy Neal Titus, Ph.D.

##### Research Space Scientist

Astrogeology Science Center

ttitus@usgs.gov

928-556-7201

#### Kaj Williams, Ph.D.

##### Research Physical Scientist

Astrogeology Science Center

kewilliams@usgs.gov

### Explore Search

                      - Earth
                      - Modeling
                      - Small Bodies
                      - Early Warnings and Alerts
                      - Earthquakes
                      - Floods
                      - Landslides
                      - Multihazards and Scenarios
                      - Science Strategy
                      - Tsunamis
                      - Wildfires
                      - Research
                      - Asteroids
                      - Atmospheres
                      - Comets
                      - Impact Crater
                      - Meteorites
                      - Meteoroids
                      - Meteors
                      - Natural Hazards
                      - Planetary Science
                      -  Meteor Crater
                      - aeolian dust
                      - social & economic

View All **

February 7, 2023

####                 A review of common natural disasters as analogs for asteroid impact effects and cascading hazards              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Astrogeology Science Center, Geologic Hazards Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Volcano Science Center

April 1, 2023

####                 National preparedness strategy & action plan for potentially hazardous near-Earth objects and planetary defense              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

November 11, 2022

####                 Apophis specific action team report              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

April 30, 2021

####                 Planetary defense preparedness: Identifying the potential for post-asteroid impact time delayed and geographically displaced hazards              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

April 30, 2021

####                 Asteroid impacts - downwind and downstream effects              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

January 1, 2005

####                 Geology of five small Australian impact craters              

June 15, 1995

####                 Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 at Jupiter              

June 25, 1994

####                 Gravity survey of the Mount Toondina impact structure, South Australia              

January 1, 1991

####                 Age and geomorphic history of Meteor Crater, Arizona, from cosmogenic 36Cl and 14C in rock varnish              

January 1, 1987

####                 Computer simulations of large asteroid impacts into oceanic and continental sites--Preliminary results on atmospheric, cratering and ejecta dynamics              

January 1, 1977

####                 Why study impact cratering?