Searching for killer asteroids from an African observatory this week on planetary radio.

Welcome, I'm Matt Kaplan of of the Planetary Society, with more of the humid adventure across our

solar system and beyond. A Planetary Society Shoemaker Near Earth Object Grant has, for the first time, gone to astronomers working from an

observatory on the continent of Africa.

We'll talk to one of its very successful amateur astronomers, Michelle Ori, in a few minutes, and later we'll learn

about the first fairly disgusting meal ever enjoyed, if that's the word, in space.

That and much more when we talk with Bruce Betts. First, though a return visit by one of the little known heroes of our search for near-Earth objects or Neos,

Tim Spar ran the Minor Planet Center for many years.

Now he is CEO of Neosciences, but still made time to chair the committee that

judged this year's applicants for Shoemaker Neo grants.

Among Tim's own discoveries are many Neos but also a Moon of Saturn and a Moon

circling Jupiter. Tim welcome back to planetary radio and thank you once again for leading this work that has led to the award of a whole new crop of Shoemaker Neo-Grants.

You're very welcome.

First of all, it's great to be back here.

Obviously, I love to chat about near-Earth asteroids

and the people doing that research.

And in particular, I just really love the work that I'm doing for the planetary society.

Let's talk a little bit about those grant awardees this year.

We've had many of these groups.

What do you think of the current one? I mean we'll be talking to one of your awardees,

Michelle Ory, in just a few minutes.

I love this group of people and I love the diversity, you know, it's a huge geographic diversity.

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