Before landing on the surface of the moon in 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin needed a training ground that matched their destination's cratered surface.
Threats from Space
Not all natural hazards that affect Earth come from here. Sometimes things from space can have a huge effect on our planet. From geomagnetic storms to meteor impacts, the USGS has a long history of mapping celestial bodies, investigating planetary anomalies, and monitoring the Earth’s geomagnetic and atmospheric conditions.
Planetary Defense
Planetary Defense
At the USGS Astrogeology Science Center, we conduct research on Planetary Defense, including predicting potential meteor impactors and studying how to deflect or divert them Effects include short-term effects such as blast damage, but also long-term effects such as climate and social impacts.
Geomagnetism Program
Geomagnetism Program
The USGS Geomagnetism Program monitors the Earth's magnetic field, with a key focus on space-weather hazard science. Geomagnetic research projects support the pursuit of a fundamental understanding of geomagnetic storms and related phenomena, while developing products to assist with situational awareness here on Earth.
Although USGS may not be seen as a space research agency, we do study a variety of threats from space. Whether it is geomagnetic storms, meteor impacts, or satellite research, the USGS has a long history of exploring what comes from above.
Here are a few examples of projects that have us looking up.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Science
Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET)
The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center (ASC) recently established the Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET) program. This service-oriented program is built around the recognition that the Earth is a fundamental training ground for human and robotic planetary exploration, and that ASC is in a unique position in northern Arizona with...
Terrestrial Analog Sample Collections
The Astrogeology Terrestrial Analog Sample Collections include three individual sample collections: the Meteor Crater Sample Collection, the Flynn Creek Crater Sample Collection, and the Shoemaker Sample Collection (embed links to individual pages; add buttons to click to go to individual pages). Click Related Science tab above to navigate to the individual collections pages.
Keeping the Lights On in North America
Realtime geoelectric maps during a magnetic storm can assist utility companies with their operations and can help power-grid managers to make decisions that may minimize the impact to their systems.
Meteor Crater Sample Collection
Meteor Crater is a 180 m deep, 1.2 km diameter bowl-shaped impact crater in Northern Arizona, and has long been a terrestrial analog site for planetary exploration. During the 1960’s, Eugene Shoemaker trained NASA astronauts at the crater to prepare for the Apollo missions to the Moon. The Meteor Crater Sample Collection consists of geologic samples from the Meteor Crater ejecta blanket. USGS...
Flynn Creek Crater Sample Collection
Flynn Creek crater is a 3.8 km diameter, 360-million-year-old impact structure located in north central Tennessee, and is an invaluable terrestrial analog for the study of impact cratering dynamics. The Flynn Creek Crater Sample Collection consists of over two thousand boxes of drill core from 18 drill holes in the crater’s central uplift, floor, and rim. USGS Astrogeology curates and provides...
Multimedia
Image of the Week - Moon Craters in Arizona
Before landing on the surface of the moon in 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin needed a training ground that matched their destination's cratered surface.
Journey Along a Field Line
Hazards: Geomagnetic Storms
Space weather can have important consequences for our lives, such as interference with radio communication, GPS systems, electric power grids, the operation and orientation of satellites, oil and gas drilling, and even air travel as high altitude pilots and astronauts can be subjected to enhanced levels of radiation.
By
Space weather can have important consequences for our lives, such as interference with radio communication, GPS systems, electric power grids, the operation and orientation of satellites, oil and gas drilling, and even air travel as high altitude pilots and astronauts can be subjected to enhanced levels of radiation.
By
Not all natural hazards that affect Earth come from here. Sometimes things from space can have a huge effect on our planet. From geomagnetic storms to meteor impacts, the USGS has a long history of mapping celestial bodies, investigating planetary anomalies, and monitoring the Earth’s geomagnetic and atmospheric conditions.
Planetary Defense
Planetary Defense
At the USGS Astrogeology Science Center, we conduct research on Planetary Defense, including predicting potential meteor impactors and studying how to deflect or divert them Effects include short-term effects such as blast damage, but also long-term effects such as climate and social impacts.
Geomagnetism Program
Geomagnetism Program
The USGS Geomagnetism Program monitors the Earth's magnetic field, with a key focus on space-weather hazard science. Geomagnetic research projects support the pursuit of a fundamental understanding of geomagnetic storms and related phenomena, while developing products to assist with situational awareness here on Earth.
Although USGS may not be seen as a space research agency, we do study a variety of threats from space. Whether it is geomagnetic storms, meteor impacts, or satellite research, the USGS has a long history of exploring what comes from above.
Here are a few examples of projects that have us looking up.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Science
Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET)
The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center (ASC) recently established the Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET) program. This service-oriented program is built around the recognition that the Earth is a fundamental training ground for human and robotic planetary exploration, and that ASC is in a unique position in northern Arizona with...
Terrestrial Analog Sample Collections
The Astrogeology Terrestrial Analog Sample Collections include three individual sample collections: the Meteor Crater Sample Collection, the Flynn Creek Crater Sample Collection, and the Shoemaker Sample Collection (embed links to individual pages; add buttons to click to go to individual pages). Click Related Science tab above to navigate to the individual collections pages.
Keeping the Lights On in North America
Realtime geoelectric maps during a magnetic storm can assist utility companies with their operations and can help power-grid managers to make decisions that may minimize the impact to their systems.
Meteor Crater Sample Collection
Meteor Crater is a 180 m deep, 1.2 km diameter bowl-shaped impact crater in Northern Arizona, and has long been a terrestrial analog site for planetary exploration. During the 1960’s, Eugene Shoemaker trained NASA astronauts at the crater to prepare for the Apollo missions to the Moon. The Meteor Crater Sample Collection consists of geologic samples from the Meteor Crater ejecta blanket. USGS...
Flynn Creek Crater Sample Collection
Flynn Creek crater is a 3.8 km diameter, 360-million-year-old impact structure located in north central Tennessee, and is an invaluable terrestrial analog for the study of impact cratering dynamics. The Flynn Creek Crater Sample Collection consists of over two thousand boxes of drill core from 18 drill holes in the crater’s central uplift, floor, and rim. USGS Astrogeology curates and provides...
Multimedia
Image of the Week - Moon Craters in Arizona
Before landing on the surface of the moon in 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin needed a training ground that matched their destination's cratered surface.
Before landing on the surface of the moon in 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin needed a training ground that matched their destination's cratered surface.
Journey Along a Field Line
Hazards: Geomagnetic Storms
Space weather can have important consequences for our lives, such as interference with radio communication, GPS systems, electric power grids, the operation and orientation of satellites, oil and gas drilling, and even air travel as high altitude pilots and astronauts can be subjected to enhanced levels of radiation.
By
Space weather can have important consequences for our lives, such as interference with radio communication, GPS systems, electric power grids, the operation and orientation of satellites, oil and gas drilling, and even air travel as high altitude pilots and astronauts can be subjected to enhanced levels of radiation.
By