Redlands Forum: Exploring ground-based radar in planetary defense

REDLANDS, Calif. – In the vast expanse of space, understanding the intricacies of asteroids and comets has long been a fascination for scientists and enthusiasts alike. While sending spacecraft remains a prominent method of exploration, ground-based radar observations have emerged as a vital tool in unraveling the mysteries of these celestial bodies.

The upcoming Redlands Forum, "Humans vs Asteroids: The Role of Ground-Based Radar in Planetary Defense," is set to delve into this captivating realm of planetary science and space exploration.

Dr. Marina Brozović, a distinguished radar scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, will take center stage to explore significant radar contributions to planetary science and space missions. With over 1000 asteroids and 23 comets already studied, radar observations have proven to be indispensable in characterizing their size, shape, and surface features. She will also discuss the future prospects of radar facilities in advancing our understanding of the cosmos.

Brozović is currently a member of the Science Team for NASA's Near-Earth Object Surveyor space telescope. Her research also encompasses orbital dynamics of the moons of the outer planets, and she contributed to NASA's New Horizons mission to explore the dwarf planet Pluto as part of the Hazards Team.

Whether attending in-person or joining via the live stream, this forum presents a rare opportunity to engage with a leading expert in the field and gain a deeper appreciation for the role of ground-based radar observations in shaping our understanding of the universe.

The event will take place Thursday, March 7 at 5:30pm.

Redlands Forums, hosted by Esri, the University of Redlands, and Redlands Town and Gown, are free to attend either in person at the Esri campus or online.

Those interested can register for the event at the link below:

Redlands Forum | Educational & Cultural Programs at Esri

Throughout the year, presenters and attendees come to the Esri campus for discussions that bring awareness to issues and offer practical action items.

Educational & Cultural Programs at Esri

About Redlands Forum: Educational and cultural programs for the community to learn and engage with the important topics of our time. Founded in 2009.