Dr Marchis, senior astronomer at the SETI Institute, emphasizes the importance of early detection to prevent disasters, stating, "If it had been slightly bigger, that would have been a very different story." This highlights the thin line we walk concerning asteroid threats.
Dr Marchis stresses collaboration with amateur astronomers, stating, "Having eyes on the sky everywhere in the world allows us to track them." This underscores the need for a wider monitoring network beyond just professionals.
Reflecting on the near-miss incident in 2004, Dr Marchis recalls, "At around 400m in diameter, the asteroid, known as 2004 MN4, was a true city killer capable of punching through the atmosphere." This illustrates the potential devastation large asteroids can cause.
Dr Marchis warns about the insufficiency of current professional monitoring, stating, "there simply aren't enough people watching the sky to catch everything," indicating the urgent need for more resources and participation in asteroid tracking.
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