Space: A Primer for Curious Minds

Asteroids Explained

As man begins to explore our solar space, some asteroids, which are like small moons made up of rocks and dust, are easier and cheaper to explore than the planets, including Earth.

Asteroids are usually rich in minerals and many of them have water and carbon which are associated with the creation of life. Simply put, exploring them is a good first step as we expand efforts to visit celestial bodies.

Scientists also plan to revisit earth’s moon, nearby Mars and possibly Saturn’s moon Titan. While we don’t expect to find actual life in the asteroid exploration, we do look forward to better understand how the solar system developed and, of course, how earth was created,

Asteroids are usually irregularly shaped by many collisions with each other. So, we are able to get a relatively easy look at their interior characteristics.

It would be interesting to look deep inside earth but at this point it is impossible.

Do you suppose the Earth’s interior is somewhat like an exposed asteroid interior?

Ted Merritt was born in 1936. He and his wife, Janet, together have six children and ten grandchildren. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College, the University of Bridgeport and holds a doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University. Merritt served in the US Navy as an engineer officer. He taught English at the elementary and high school levels and served as a superintendent of schools for thirty years.He also served as a Connecticut State vocational rehabilitation counselor and was director of architectural research for six years. After retirement, he moved to Block Island. Merritt is now a boat surveyor and holds a coast guard master’s license.He has captained boats for fifteen years and has been an artist during his retirement. After a decade of being full-time Block Island residents, Janet and Ted are now part-time residents and spend ten months of the year in the Mirabella retirement home, which is part of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.