[meteorite-list] New App Helps NASA Keep Track of Meteoroids

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:11:11 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <201112140011.pBE0BB4v011419_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/13dec_meteorcounter/

New App Helps NASA Keep Track of Meteoroids
NASA Science News
December 13, 2011

Surprising but true: Every day, on average, more than
40 tons of meteoroids strike our planet. Most are tiny specks of comet
dust that disintegrate harmlessly high up in Earth's atmosphere,
producing a slow drizzle of meteors in the night sky. Bigger chunks of
asteroid and comet debris yield dozens of nightly fireballs around the
globe. Some are large enough to pepper the ground with actual meteorites.

With so much "stuff" zeroing in on our planet, NASA could use some help
keeping track of it all.

Enter the Meteor Counter -- a new iPhone app designed to harness the
power of citizen scientists to keep track of meteoroids.

"Using our app, people from all walks of life can contribute to
authentic NASA research," says Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid
Environment Office, which sponsored the project. "The data will help us
discover new meteor showers, pinpoint comet debris streams, and map the
distribution of meteoroids around Earth's orbit."

Whenever you go outside for a bit of stargazing, take your iPhone, iPad
or iPod Touch with you, advises Cooke. Start the Meteor Counter, lie
down in a safe dark place, and be alert for shooting stars.

The Meteor Counter operates using an intuitive "piano key" interface.
Every time you see a meteor, simply tap the key corresponding to its
brightness. Keys on the left correspond to dim meteors - barely visible
to the naked eye; keys on the right denote jaw-dropping fireballs.

With each keytap, the Meteor Counter records critical data such as the
time you saw the meteor, the meteor's magnitude, and your location. You
can even turn on an optional voice recorder to capture your own
description of events. Experts could comment on the trajectory and
radiant of the meteor, while novices might prefer to simply shout
out--"wow!"

Afterward, these data are automatically uploaded to NASA researchers for
analysis.

The Meteor Counter is designed for all kinds of observers, ranging from
experts with experience in science-grade meteor observations to
first-time sky watchers who might never have seen a meteor before.

"The beauty of our app is that it gradually transforms novices into
experts," says Cooke. "As an observer gains experience, we weight their
data accordingly in our analyses."

The Meteor Counter also acts as a meteor shower alert system. When a
known shower is in the offing, the app pops up a reminder for
observers. A news feed and events calendar is routinely updated by
professional scientists to keep users informed of the latest meteor
happenings.

Cooke encourages citizen scientists everywhere to try it out.

"The app is available free of charge in Apple's app store," he says.
"Just search for Meteor Counter, and let the observing begin."


Author:Dr. Tony Phillips
Production editor: Dr. Tony Phillips
Credit: Science at NASA

*More Information*

Download the Meteor Counter
<http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/meteor-counter/id466896415>
 
Complete instructions for using the Meteor Counter app are available at:
http://meteorcounter.com/

NASA astronomer Bill Cooke is head of the NASA Meteoroid Environment
Office <http://www.nasa.gov/offices/meo/home/index.html>
Received on Tue 13 Dec 2011 07:11:11 PM PST