It might be shocking to learn that there are actually very few eyes looking up at the sky to see if any celestial bodies or cosmic debris are on a collision course with us. It is not so much that people are not undertaking this role, but instead simply that there is an awful lot of space to look at.
The biggest problem is that seeing something moving in space isn’t easy. The amount of ground (or space) an object covers in proportion to the background can be minute at any time and therefore it needs eyes focussing on each piece of sky constantly to really understand if an object is moving towards us.
With so much sky to see and only a certain number of telescopes able to be fixed on any one point of the sky, it is therefore not always possible to spot a potential disaster until it is almost too late. However, this doesn’t mean that individuals can’t play a part.
For those who enjoy looking up at the night sky, the astronomical telescopes they use can be the perfect early warning system. With some simple software that is readily available, it is possible to use your telescopes to take snapshots of the sky and easily see if items are moving. Images of those that are can then easily be passed on to the relevant authorities to ascertain whether those cosmic entities are heading for us and then use their own telescopes to get a closer look.
It may seem worrying that we are not looking at the whole of the sky all the time, but the money and resources this would involve are great. However, what this does mean is that the relevant bodies will be more than happy to welcome you on board to share your own unique findings.