PLEASE NOTE:
*
THE COMET AND ASTEROID INFORMATION NETWORK (CAIN)
>From Jonathan Tate, The Spaceguard Centre <fr77@dial.pipex.com>
PRESS RELEASE
Ref: SGC
01/07
26 December 2001
"ROGUE ASTEROID WILL SMASH INTO EARTH ...... OH NO IT
WON'T"
THE COMET AND ASTEROID INFORMATION NETWORK (CAIN)
Since the mid 1990s the issue of asteroid or comet impacts has
become
one of the hottest science topics in the public domain.
However, over
the past few years the public has often been given confusing and,
equally often, inaccurate information.
On 1 January 2002 the Comet and Asteroid Information Network
(CAIN) will
become active. Co-ordinated by the Spaceguard Centre in
Wales (the
International Spaceguard Information Centre), science centres
around the
country are participating in the project. The aim is to
provide timely,
accurate and unbiased information on the subject of Near Earth
Objects,
the hazard posed to the Earth, the methods by which the risk can
be
reduced and current space policy issues to the public,
politicians,
decision makers and the media.
The Phase 1 Regional Centres are:
· The Armagh
Observatory and Planetarium
· The Eden
Project
· Glamorgan
University
· The Glasgow
Science Centre
· Herstmonceux
Science Centre
· Jodrell Bank
Visitor Centre
· Liverpool John
Moores University
· Roseland
Observatory
· Techniquest
A full list, with contact details, can be found at Annex A.
For Phase 2, the National Space Centre (Leicester) heads the list
of
institutions that have been invited to participate, and CAIN
welcomes
applications from science, educational and outreach organisations
to
join.
The government (British National Space Centre) will shortly
announce the
identity of the new National NEO Information Centre.
Although the new
Centre will not be able to comment on a number of aspects of the
NEO
hazard (due to contractual obligations to the BNSC) it is hoped
that
there will be close co-operation between it and the
well-established
Spaceguard Centre (Spaceguard UK) and its extensive network of
national
and international contacts.
Contact:
JR Tate,
FRAS
Tel: 01547 520247
The Spaceguard
Centre
Fax: 01547 520247
Llanshay
Lane
Mobile: 07968 195625
Knighton,
Powys
E-Mail: spaceguard@dial.pipex.com
LD7
1LW
Website: http://www.spaceguarduk.com
The Spaceguard Centre supported by NewHert Ltd. Internet services
provided by PerfectArc Ltd.
Annex A
CAIN
REGIONAL CENTRE CONTACT DETAILS
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
Professor ME Bailey
Armagh Observatory
College Hill
Armagh
BT61 9DG
Northern Ireland
Tel: 028 3752 2928
meb@star.arm.ac.uk
Herstmonceux Science Centre
Dr John Becklake
Herstmonceux Science Centre
Herstmonceux Castle
Hailsham
East Sussex
BN27 1RP
Tel: 01323 832731
Fax: 01323 832741
hsc@pavilion.co.uk
Glasgow Science Centre
Mario DiMaggio
Glasgow Science Centre
50 Pacific Quay
Glasgow
G51 1EA
Mario@dimaggio.org
Liverpool JMU and Museum
Dr Mike Simcoe, Dr Andy Newsam
Astrophysics Research Institute
Liverpool John Moores University
Twelve Quays House
Egerton Wharf
Birkenhead
L41 1LD
Tel: 0151 231 2920
mfb@staru1.livjm.ac.uk
The Eden Project
Dr A D (Tony) Kendle
Eden Foundation
Watering Lane Nursery
Pentewan
St Austell
Cornwall
PL26 6BE
Tel: 01726 222900
Fax: 01726 222901
http://www.edenproject.com
University of Glamorgan
Dr Paul Roche
Dept of Earth and Space Sciences
School of Applied Sciences
University of Glamorgan
Trefforest
CF37 1DL
Tel: 01443 482785
Fax: 01443 482285
Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre
Ian Morison
Jodrell Bank Science Centre
Lower Withington
Macclesfield
Cheshire
SK11 9DL
Tel: 01477 571321
Fax: 01477571618
agl@jb.man.ac.uk, im@jb.man.ac.uk
Roseland Observatory
Brian Sheen
Roseland
Observatory
92 Par Green
Par
Cornwall
PL24 2AG
Tel: 01726 813602
brian.sheen@virgin.net
Techniquest
Anita Shaw
Techniquest
Stuart Street
Cardiff
CF10 6BW
Tel: 02920 475475
Fax: 02920 482517
http://www.tquest.org.uk/>
as@techniquest.org