Matthew Ginnow​ Matt Ginnow #mattginnow #matthewginnow

#mattginnow#matthewginnowMatthew Matt Ginnow

Matt Ginnow Matthew Ginnow #mattginnow #matthewginnow

Matt Ginnow #mattginnow

Porpoises leap inside a man-made lagoon in Oahu, Hawaii, 1966. Photograph by Thomas Nebbia, National Geographic Creative

Curiousity by Matt Ginnow

Matthew Ginnow by Matthew Ginnow

I’m just a boy, standing in front of the world, asking you to love him…and to not feed me. We have a lot of new members to #TeamPublicLands this summer and we are so glad you’re out there enjoying nature. Just remember, even if the critters look cute, never give them food. The wildlife at public land sites don’t need your powdered donuts or “real cheese” flavored crackers, in fact, our human food will give these critters health problems and lead to poor well-being. Giving the wildlife food will also lead to negative encounters like bites and attacks. If you don’t believe us, just listen to the wildlife. “Keep your donuts, We’ve got nature’s nuts.” - Squirrely McCheeks Photo of squirrel eating nature’s nuts, by Kristin Burrill. Photo description: A squirrel at a national park stands between two rocks and eats a nut while it holds it with both paws.

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Matthew Ginnow Matt Ginnow #mattginnow #matthewginnow

Here’s What You Need to Know About Near-Earth Objects

Our solar system is littered with asteroids and comets, and sometimes they get a little close to Earth. But no need to worry! This happens all the time. When an asteroid or comet could come close to our planet, it’s known as a near-Earth object – aka NEO.

But how close is “close”?

A near-Earth object is defined as an object that could pass by our Earth within 30 million miles. We begin to keep close watch on objects that could pass within 5 million miles of our planet.

To put that into perspective, our Moon is only 238,900 miles away.

However unlikely an impact is, we want to know about all near-Earth objects. Our Planetary Defense Coordination Office maintains watch for asteroids and comets coming close to Earth. Along with our partners, we discover, catalog and characterize these bodies.

But what if one of these objects posed a threat?

We want to be prepared. That is why we are working on several deflection techniques and technologies to help protect our planet.

So next time that you hear of an asteroid passing “close” to Earth, know that it’s just one of many that we are tracking.

Here are 10 more things you should know about Planetary Defense.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

Matthew Ginnow Matt Ginnow #mattginnow #matthewginnow                            

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