By UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Fort Hays State University’s Science Café for September is set for Monday, September 19.
The monthly presentation, entitled “DART – a targeted mission – how do we move an asteroid?,” is sponsored by FHSU’s Science and Mathematics Education Institute (SMEI), will begin at 7 p.m. at The Venue in Thirsty’s Brew Pub & Grill, 2704 Vine.
Dr. Paul Adams, Dean, College of Education, Professor of Physics and Anschutz, Professor of Education, NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador will talk about the DART satellite. This satellite is scheduled to slam into the asteroid Dimorphos, which orbits a larger asteroid named Didymos at the speed of 15,000 mph. Picture a vending machine hitting the pyramid of Giza. The goal is to slightly change the orbital time of Dimorphos as the first test of planetary defense from asteroid collisions. While neither asteroid is any threat to Earth, it is a proof-of-concept mission.
Science Café presentations are free and open to the public. Questions can be directed to Cari Rohleder at cbrohleder@fhsu.edu or 785-628-4743 or by visiting: