Now you can use a free software from NASA to discover … – Hypertext

The Big Dipper behind Catalina telescope. Source: Universida Arizona / NASA

The hunt of the asteroid.. At least as never before been done. NASA has made available to all users for free , a software to analyze and seek their own kites. Thus, anyone can become a real Data Asteroid Hunter and so put his name even piece of space. The software has been developed through the involvement of hundreds of developers presented their projects to improve analysis algorithm in a contest that distributed more than $ 55,000 last 2014. Now, framing the application on the Asteroid Grand Challenge , a challenge for the space agency and collaborators, the intention is to make a difference in the discovery of new celestial bodies that draw us even better the sky.

Become a Data Asteroid Hunter

The software to be a Data Asteroid Hunter is completely free, as mentioned, is officially available for all operating systems (except for Linux, Ubuntu, which will be ready soon). The application allows to analyze the images obtained with telescopes, many of which are accessible publicly, with 15% more effectively than previous algorithms using . This is thanks to the optimization of the new Machine Learning algorithms developed and improved through the participation of engineers and hobbyists whose work has improved the detection and avoid false positives. So far, according to several sources of NASA, the result is extremely positive. With software we can detect any existing asteroids between Mars and Jupiter belts

The Eros kite, NEO photographed in 2000. Source: NASA

The images astronomers use to detect objects Bright and movement. An approach used since the discovery of Pluto, back in 1930. Since then, more and more each day telescopes active, the amount of information that can be analyzed is simply overwhelming. The problem is that confirm each detection “by hand” is practically impossible . The new algorithm provided by the challenge of Asteroid Hunter precisely Data verification increases capacity and accuracy autonomously without human supervision. So, you can find the elements likely to become a new discovery, increasing the catalog of celestial objects at speeds unimaginable until now.

The Asteroid Grand Challenge

In 2013, the NASA proposed to the world their Asteroid Grand Challenge project that fits this Data Asteroid Hunter, whose ambitious goal is to detect all possible dangerous objects with the planet earth in its path. Also, is also intended to know what’s in our skies and so complete the most comprehensive catalog of asteroids ever created to date . The initiative, led by the US space agency, has numerous interdisciplinary partners worldwide. But as two heads are better than two to the number of amateur astronomers around the world does nothing but grow, thanks to new technologies doors This software can help you more easily detect asteroids dangerous to the earth This task is opened to all the user with ability and willingness to lend a hand in the task.

Although it is estimated that 95% of NEOs, ie the objects whose trajectory is near Earth’s orbit are cataloged and are monitored, the problem is unknown percentage, which may be higher than expected, as we have come up with some that another recent scare. The provision of private computers to detect new objects , as with software Data Asteroid Hunter, accelerates and improves the process of selecting and discarding items likely to become potential hazards. So, from now not only can give a name to a piece of rock floating in space. We will also be helping the fight against an astronomical cataclysm. At the end of the day we can not all get on a spaceship and land on the surface of a meteorite to blow it up, but we do have a computer.