Changes

==Research==

==Research==

===Rationale for the Project===

===Rationale for the Project===

The N.E.A.R. project was begun with the realization of the catastrophic result of the collision of a large object with the earth.  An object which is 3 km in diameter, composed of material having a density of 5 g/cc (5000 kg/m^3), and traveling at 10 km/s, would possess a kinetic energy of  ½ mv^2 = 3.5 x 10^21 joules.  The TNT_equivalent|energy yield of the largest nuclear weapons is about 5 x 10^15 joules so that one large asteroid possesses the kinetic energy of approximately one million large nuclear weapons.

The N.E.A.R. project was begun with the realization of the catastrophic result of the collision of a large object with the earth.  An object which is 3 km in diameter, composed of material having a density of 5 g/cc (5000 kg/m³), and traveling at 10 km/s, would possess a kinetic energy of  ½ mv² = 3.5 x 10²¹ joules.  The TNT_equivalent|energy yield of the largest nuclear weapons is about 5 x 10¹⁵ joules so that one large asteroid possesses the kinetic energy of approximately one million large nuclear weapons.

===Identification of Candidate Objects===

===Identification of Candidate Objects===

===Discovering Asteroids===

===Discovering Asteroids===

Discovering asteroids is easily done because of their large proper motion|proper motions, the key to discovering near-earth objects.  An object orbiting the sun in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter will typically move about 10 seconds of arc over a 15-minute period. Near-earth objects will have larger proper motions both because they are closer to the earth and because, being closer to the sun, they have larger orbital velocity|orbital velocities.  Generally, the closer the asteroid to the earth, the brighter it is and the greater its angular distance of movement between observations.   

[[File: LesGoldenAsteroidDiscovery.jpg|thumb|left|175px|<small>The beginnings of the [[Near Earth Asteroid Reconnaissance Project]] was the subject of an article in <i>Compuserve Magazine</i>, which also discussed his being a writer for the Syndicated Writers’ Group reporting as a Halley’s Comet lecturer on the high seas.</small>]]Discovering asteroids is easily done because of their large proper motion|proper motions, the key to discovering near-earth objects.  An object orbiting the sun in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter will typically move about 10 seconds of arc over a 15-minute period. Near-earth objects will have larger proper motions both because they are closer to the earth and because, being closer to the sun, they have larger orbital velocity|orbital velocities.  Generally, the closer the asteroid to the earth, the brighter it is and the greater its angular distance of movement between observations.   

===Research Activities===

===Research Activities===