01x17 - Asteroids, Meteors, and Meteorites/Mindy's Meteorite Stand

[bunniefuu]

[together] Ready! Jet! Go!

- ♪ Jet Propulsion ♪

♪ That's his name ♪

♪ Jet Propulsion ♪

♪ He'll rocket to fame ♪

♪ When he arrived, he created a buzz ♪

♪ 'Cause there was no house ♪

♪ And then there was, he said ♪

- ♪ People of Earth! You ain't seen nothing yet! ♪

♪ I'm from Bortron , and my name is Jet! ♪

- ♪ Jet Propulsion ♪

♪ That's his name ♪

♪ He looks like us ♪

♪ But he isn't the same ♪

- ♪ I'm a space tripper and a galaxy crosser ♪

♪ My parents brought me here in a flying saucer ♪

- ♪ And just to prove it was a fact ♪

♪ He flew them out to space and back ♪

♪ Jet Propulsion ♪

[spaceship whirring]

- ♪ Jet Propulsion ♪

[together] Ready! Jet! Go!

- ♪ He showed up, and now it's a blast ♪

♪ Looks like the future really got here fast ♪

- ♪ Nice to meet you, human race ♪

♪ Tell me all about the place ♪

- Jet Propulsion!

- Jet Propulsion!

- Jet Propulsion!

all: Ready! Jet! Go!

[video arcade sounds]

- [sighs] No.

Nuh-uh, hmm.

- What are you looking for, Jet?

- Well, tomorrow is a Bortronian holiday,

in which you give a present to the adult male

that is in your "parental unit."

- You mean, your dad?

- Right!

- On Earth, we call that Father's Day.

- "Father's Day." Ha, what a great name!

Anyway, I'm looking through my junk pile to see

what I can make for a "Father's Day"

present for Dad.

- Cool. I'll be right here,

trying to get the high score on "Astro Tracker."

- "Asteroid." Huh, I love that word.

Face, what exactly makes an asteroid an asteroid?

- Glad you asked, Jet.

Excuse me while I pause your game, Sydney.

An asteroid is a rock from space

that's smaller than a moon or a planet.

- Oh, now I remember.

There's even a song about it.

- ♪ Yes, an asteroid, that's what it's called ♪

♪ And it's not good to stand where an asteroid falls ♪

together: ♪ Asteroid, thank you, Face ♪

♪ You gave us the answer about the rocks from space ♪

♪ We're over the moon, we're overjoyed ♪

♪ 'Cause now we know all about the asteroids! ♪

- All this talk about asteroids

makes me want to try this game.

Looks easy.

- Not as easy as it looks.

Here you go.

[arcade game blips ominously]

Oh.

Okay, so it's not easy.

Would you show me how it's done, Sydney?

What's the secret?

- Well, part of it is dodging asteroids,

and part of it is being able to blast your way through them,

but it really helps when you can identify the large ones.

First you discover them, then name them,

just like the scientists do.

See?

And that's how you get a good score.

- I have to admit, Sydney's the best

Astro Tracker of all of us.

- Ugh! There it goes again!

Someone is beating my score.

- Really? Who?

- Uh, there's another player online called "Dot-Sun."

Whoever it is, Dot-Sun is truly the best

Astro Tracker of all.

- I wonder who that could be.

Anyway, I still have to come up with an idea

for a "Father's Day" present.

Hey, Sunspot, I need some ideas. Are you busy right now?

Ah, you're probably "researching" ideas

for the perfect Father's Day present, huh?

Good luck with that, Sunspot.

- Yeah, take that, asteroid!

- I wish I were a real asteroid tracker.

I'd fly out to the asteroid belt in my spaceship

and track down every one of them.

- Not every asteroid is in the asteroid belt, Sean.

- Wait, Face, what do you mean?

Of course all asteroids are in the asteroid belt.

It's the asteroid belt.

They never leave there, do they?

- Excuse me while I pause your game, Sydney.

See, most of the asteroids are indeed way out

in the asteroid belt, between Mars and Jupiter.

But some of the asteroids get outside the belt

and float loose in the solar system.

- They do?

Do they come close to the Earth?

- Mostly they don't; a few do,

and scientists call them near-Earth objects, or NEOs.

- I didn't know any of this.

Wow, asteroids floating around the solar system?

What if an asteroid actually hit the Earth?

I need to see this for myself.

- You know, Sean, if you really want

to be the ultimate Astro Tracker,

we could take the wagon and go out and look

at the asteroid belt.

- You know, Jet, I can't believe I'm saying this,

but maybe we should take the saucer and go out

and see how big they are and how fast they move.

- Sean?

You actually want to go into space?

I'd love to see some real asteroids!

Just let me finish this game.

[game chimes ominously]

Ugh! I lost!

Again!

[game blips]

I got to beat this Dot-Sun person.

- Sunspot, car trip!

- Okay, I just got her washed and topped off the tank.

She's good for a trillion miles.

Who wants to go see the asteroid belt?

together: We do!

- Ah, ready to go to space, Sean?

- I actually think I am; I'm really interested

in finding out more about asteroids.

- Ooh, wonderful.

- Uh, but, you will steer carefully

between the asteroids.

- ♪ Five, four, three, two one! ♪

♪ Doors are shut, engines on ♪

♪ Everybody in their place, let's go into outer space! ♪

all: Ready! Jet! Go!

[jet engines revving]

[jet engine whooshing]

- To the asteroid belt!

all: Excelsior!

- Um, Face, would you mind

turning on the Astro Tracker game again?

- Not at all. I'll put on my "game face."

[laughs]

- Thanks. All right, Dot-Sun.

Bring it on!

[grunts] Ah, there you are, Dot-Sun.

Ha, I spotted that big asteroid first!

- Look out! Asteroid on your left.

- Whoa--got it! Thanks.

- Hey, Sunspot, how's that research coming?

Got any ideas for Dad's Father's Day present?

- Oh, yes, "Father's Day." Great Earthy expression.

- Whoa--yes! Dodged the big one.

Take that, Dot-Sun!

- [laughs] Hey, Sydney,

we've reached the actual asteroid belt.

And you've got your face glued to that video game.

Look, there are real asteroids right out the window.

- Look out, asteroid on your left!

- Whoo-hoo! Got it. Thanks.

See, Sean's enjoying the view.

- Mm. Ah!

Uh, yes, it's maybe too good a view; thanks.

- [laughs] Sydney, look!

Real asteroids! Whoo!

- Oh, you're right, we are in the actual asteroid belt.

I'll power down-- [game chimes]

Oh!

Beaten again by the mysterious Dot-Sun.

- Ah, the asteroid belt.

It's called that because they make

a giant "belt" around the Sun.

They're made up rock, ice, and other materials leftover

from the forming of the planets.

- [squealing]

- Sunspot, are you trying to tell me something?

Maybe that my Father's Day gift

should somehow involve asteroids?

And belts? - [barks]

- Uh, Celery, Face told us that

not every asteroid stays in the asteroid belt.

- Right; they mostly stay put out here.

- Mostly?

- Well, yes, a few bounce off each other

and float around the solar system.

- Correct, Celery.

- Do they ever hit the Earth?

- Well, mostly they don't.

Those very few "mostly" burn up in Earth's atmosphere,

where they glow white-hot, and make a long, bright streak

and become meteors.

together: Ooh! Meteors!

- You see, the Earth's atmosphere

is what protects it from most asteroids.

Just compare it to your moon.

Look how many asteroids have hit it.

- Oh, so that's why our moon has so many craters?

Because it doesn't have an atmosphere?

- Correct, Sydney, and that's one reason

why the Earth mostly doesn't have craters.

- Mostly doesn't?

- Well, the Earth has some craters.

together: It does?

- Why don't we take a look at one?

Back to Earth!

all: Excelsior!

[jet engine whooshing]

- Here we are, planet Earth.

I believe we're above "Arizona."

all: [gasp] Wow!

Look at that crater!

- So an asteroid hit the Earth and made that hole?

- I love it!

That must be an amazing story.

"The Night the Meteor Hit the Earth."

- I wonder when it happened.

- The asteroid made that crater thousands of years ago.

- Ah, I get it, so asteroids hit the Earth

a long time ago, but not anymore, right?

- Well, mostly.

Once in a great while, an asteroid still comes along.

And when they do...

[meteor whirring]

- Most of them burn up in Earth's atmosphere.

- Most of them?

- Yes, and those few bits of meteor that make it

all the way through our atmosphere to land on Earth

are called meteorites.

together: Meteorites.

- Cool!

- Mostly.

- Hey, Dad, a flying saucer!

- Hmm? Oh, well.

Smile.

- Hmm, needs more work.

[clanking and beeping]

[beeping]

- Yes! Tagged another one.

- Wow, Jet, you should see this.

Sean's really racking up a high score.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll look in a sec.

I'm almost done making my Father's Day present for Dad.

- Oh, really?

- Yeah, I was so inspired by our trip to the asteroid belt.

Now I just have to finish it.

- You know, you guys, I've been thinking about asteroids.

I decided not to be worried.

I'm gonna be scientific about them.

- Good! Uh, scientific how?

- Well, like Face says,

asteroids mostly stay in the asteroid belt.

- Right, and those asteroids that don't stay in

the asteroid belt mostly don't come near the Earth.

- And of those very few that come near the Earth...

- Mostly they burn up in the atmosphere, as meteors.

all: Right!

- Good job, Sean.

- Thanks.

so maybe "mostly" is as sure as some things get.

And "mostly," I'm okay with that.

And meanwhile, I'm gonna get really good at zapping them

so some day I can be on the team of scientists that protect

the Earth from asteroids.

- [laughs] Good idea.

- Yeah, I like that plan, Sean.

- What? That mystery player Dot-Sun

beat me, again!

Sydney, where'd you go?

- What? You're Dot-Sun?

[laughter]

all: Sunspot!

- Hey, Jet, it's time to celebrate our Bortronian holiday

commemorating your male parental unit.

- Oh, you mean Father's Day?

- [laughs] "Father's Day," huh?

[laughs] I like it.

- And this is the present-giving part of our celebration.

- Yep, Celery gave me these Moon-rock cuff links.

Next year maybe I'll get cuffs. Heh, whatever those are.

Oh, you are absolutely the amazing, hon.

- Oh.

- Here you go, Dad.

I made you this as a present.

It's called an asteroid belt.

- [laughs] Wow!

Look, I'm an asteroid belt!

Ooh, now I'm a near-Earth object, or NEO,

since this is very near the Earth.

Oh, hey! I'm in the atmosphere

so I guess that makes me a meteor.

Oh, wait, wait, wait, I'm on the ground

so I'm a meteorite.

Zoom! Zoom, zoom, zoom!

[laughter]

- Oh, Dad, happy Father's Day.

- Did you ever wonder how bats can "see" in the dark?

Well, they use sound waves that they hear bouncing

off of objects, and that tells them where things are.

Hi, I'm astronomer Amy Mainzer.

We can use radio waves in a similar way

to look where asteroids are,

using this giant, -meter antenna

at NASA's Deep Space Network.

It might look like a giant satellite dish,

but this is also a telescope.

It's one that senses radio waves.

We use this radio telescope to track our satellites,

and to explore the universe.

And one of the things we look for are asteroids

that wander into the neighborhood around Earth.

Asteroids are chunks of rock leftover from the formation

of our solar system about / billion years ago.

So they can tell us a lot about how we got here.

And, of course, we want to keep an eye on any

that might be coming our way.

And we use this giant, -meter radio antenna to

blast radio waves out.

They hit the asteroids and bounce back.

This tells us a lot about them,

tells us their sizes, their shapes, how they spin.

One of the coolest discoveries made with this NASA antenna

is that asteroids can have moons.

Yes, you heard that right:

asteroids can have their own moons.

About % of all near-Earth asteroids actually

have their very own moons--

sometimes, even two.

So the next time you walk into a dark room,

just pretend you're a bat

or this giant -meter antenna that can see in the dark.

[playful music]

- I love digging holes with you, Sunspot.

Maybe we can plant our own garden one day,

like my mom and I did in my yard.

[metal clanking]

[straining]

Whoa.

Look at this rock.

It looks different, right?

Is this a special test?

Ooh, really?

It's a super special sky rock?

Are you saying it's from outer space?

- [laughs]

- Yeah!

- You guys! See this rock?

I dug it up right here.

It's from outer space and landed in your yard, Jet.

- You mean, it's a meteorite?

- Yes!

Wait, is that what they're called?

- Yep, but, Mindy, how do you know

this rock is from space?

- Sean, we did a test.

Sunspot put the rock in water and it became cleaner and shiny.

So it's from outer space.

- But all rocks get clean and shiny

when you put them in water.

- Whoo-hoo! Yep.

That definitely looks like rocks I've seen

while traveling in the solar system.

This is huge news!

Come on, there's a meteorite here in Boxwood Terrace.

We have to tell everyone!

- Whoa, we can't run out and tell everyone the news

till we have real news.

You see, it can be really hard to tell

if a rock came from somewhere other than Earth.

- Sean's right, Mindy.

We can't be completely sure about your rock.

Just because it's shiny doesn't mean it's from outer space.

- Then how can you tell if my rock is a meteorite?

- Well, to figure out if your rock isn't just an Earth rock,

we need to do the right kind of tests on it.

Hey, we can use the scientific method.

- Okay! And maybe we'll find out

if my rock is a meteorite, right?

- Right! I wonder if space rocks

would ever land in our neighborhood, or ever have.

[electric guitar plays]

- Whee-ow-ow-ow!

I heard "rock" and had to weigh in.

all: Hi, Face!

- Hello, everyone.

So meteorites, well,

thousands of space rocks hit the Earth every year.

Most are tiny and hard to find.

Some land in oceans or forests.

So there is a very small chance your rock is a meteorite.

- Well, our street isn't an ocean or a forest,

so maybe Mindy's rock is one of those

"found on the ground" meteorites.

- Hmm, could be!

And Sean's right: the proper tests will help you discover

if your rock is meteorite or meteor-wrong!

[rim shot] [laughs]

- So what kind of meteorite tests do we get to do?

- I'll show you.

- [gasps] We can use my laboratory,

in my garage.

Walk this way.

[rock music]

♪ ♪

[giggling]

- So to find out if Mindy's rock is a meteorite,

we start with the look test.

We look to see if the rock is mostly smooth

and has little, teeny holes like dimples in it.

- Next, the magnet test.

Meteorites are pulled by a strong magnet.

- Yes, the third test is the rub test.

We rub or scratch the rock against a piece of tile.

Most meteorites will not make a mark at all.

- Oh, oh!

And we're gonna use the scientific method?

Could you remind me what that is again?

- I'd thought you'd never ask. [clears throat]

all: One! - ♪ Ask a question ♪

all: ♪ Based on observations ♪

Two! - ♪ Make a prediction ♪

all: ♪ That's your hypothesis ♪

Three! - ♪ Experiment ♪

all: ♪ Test your hypothesis! ♪

Four! - ♪ Observe what happens ♪

all: ♪ And gather information ♪

Five! - ♪ Draw conclusions ♪

all: ♪ About what you discovered ♪

Six! - ♪ Share your findings ♪

all: ♪ Get the word to others ♪

♪ The scientific method ♪

♪ It's the scientific method ♪

♪ Yeah! ♪

- Mindy's rock passed each of our tests.

It sure looks like a meteorite.

- And magnets like it a lot, and it doesn't make a mark.

So, Sean, is the rock I found a meteorite?

- That's a really good hypothesis.

- Wow, I think we have a real meteorite

right here in Boxwood Terrace!

- We have to tell everyone.

- Yeah, let's do it!

[fanfare]

- Perfect!

Let's go!

Mindy found a meteorite!

Mindy found a rock from outer space!

Come and see it!

- [laughs] Imagine if Mindy

had a meteorite stand and everyone came to see her rock.

- Hmm.

- Welcome to Mindy's Meteorite Stand!

- We should have brought chairs!

- Oh, hey, we can sit on this big rock, Mindy.

- Good idea.

- Wow, interesting rock.

I wonder where it's from.

Oh, well. We have Mindy's meteorite.

Step right up to see the real rock from

what you Earth people call "outer space!"

- Jet, remember, keep the "I'm not from here"

on the down-low.

- Oh, right.

[chortles] Uh, I mean,

all of us Earth people call it "outer space!"

[indistinct chatter]

- My meteorite, found right here in Jet's backyard.

- Whoa. - Cool.

- Interesting, an actual meteorite.

- So you really found it right here?

- I really did.

It'd be fun to find more meteorites

because hardly anyone does, ever.

- I'd like to find a meteorite.

- You know what, I bet there are

tons more space rocks in the neighborhood.

Hey, everyone, you can all dig around here

and maybe find your own meteorite!

[indistinct excited chatter]

- Great idea. - That's fantastic.

- Wait! Is that a good idea?

All the yards dug up?

Piles of rocks everywhere?

[laughs] Maybe they'll bring each rock

to Mindy and she'll tell them if it's a meteorite or not.

- Step right up, show Mindy your rock,

and she'll tell you if it's a meteorite!

[indistinct chatter]

- This just in!

Meteorite fever has come to Boxwood Terrace.

People here are hoping they'll be as lucky as

little Mindy Melendez, and find their own space rock.

- Nope, sorry. Not a meteorite.

This is an Earth rock.

Sorry, it's from Earth.

- Did you know I'm a science colleague of Mindy's?

Yep, we worked together in this neighborhood

for a few years now.

- Come up to the surface, space rocks.

I know you flew a long way from outer space to get here,

but so did we.

Come on up, let's meet. You're safe with us.

[whimsical music]

♪ ♪

Whoo! Celery?

[laughter]

- Sorry, not a meteorite.

[sniffs]

Hmm, this is an old roll.

- Wow, it's amazing how many rocks there are around here.

- You're right, Sydney.

And the wonderful thing about rocks is

each one has kind of its own story:

how it got to Earth, what it's made of.

- Well, I hope my rock's story started in outer space.

- [gasps] Maybe your rock

was born on Mars.

It was playing with its rock friends one day

and tumbled off into space, flew through the stars.

Hi, stars. Bounced off an asteroid--ow!

Ricocheted off a rocket-- whoa!

And sped really fast towards Earth--whee!

And right into Jet's backyard!

[cheers and applause]

- I love your stories, Sydney.

But sorry, Sean,

this is an Earth rock, see?

[crowd moans]

- Excuse me, maybe mine is a meteorite?

- Sorry, I think this is also from Earth, Mr. Carrot.

- Aww.

- Mm, I have to agree, Mr. Propulsion.

Now, Mindy, may I take a look at your rock?

- Sure!

Here you go, Dr. Rafferty.

It's a real meteorite, right?

Can you believe I dug it up here, in Jet's yard?

- Hmm, I just want to double-check.

Hmm.

- Is there a problem?

- Is it the best meteorite you've ever seen

and you want to keep it?

- [sighs] Mindy,

your rock is an Earth rock.

It isn't from outer space, and here's why:

I see quartz in here.

Quartz is a shiny mineral that's only found in Earth rocks.

- Oh.

Are you sure, Dr. Sean's Mom?

- [sighs] Sorry.

- [pouts]

- You were so close, Mindy.

And hey, now you know all about meteorites.

- Sydney's right, Mindy.

What you did today was pretty amazing.

You looked at so many other rocks today

and could tell where they're from.

That's so cool.

- Hmm.

I really thought I had a meteorite.

- I know, but, Mindy, all of us scientists are

often so sure of something, and then find out we're wrong.

But we should never give up, because everything we learn

helps us to get to the right answer.

- Thank you, Mrs. Dr. Rafferty, a lot.

I wonder if any of us will ever dig up a real meteorite.

Huh?

[metal clanks]

- [giggles] Sunspot's ready.

Could be tomorrow...

- Or in ten Earth years.

Uh, heh, I mean regular old years.

We're all from Earth around here.

[laughs nervously] Yep.

- Mindy, can you stand up for a minute, please?

- Okay.

[barks]

[whimpers]

[straining]

- Hmm.

[laughs]

Mindy, I have some unexpected and amazing news.

The rock bench that you've been sitting on is

an actual meteorite!

all: Really?

- [laughs] I'm % sure,

or your name isn't Mindy Melendez.

- And my name is Mindy Melendez!

I can't believe Sydney and me have been sitting

on a real meteorite!

Whoo-hoo!

[all cheer]

- [laughs] Mindy found a real meteorite.

All right, Mindy!

[all cheering]

That's right!

Step right up and see a real-deal outer space rock!

It's bigger and really real!

Form a line to see the amazing Mindy's Meteorite Bench!

[indistinct chatter]

- Hi, I'm astronomer Amy Mainzer.

Some of the best tools that you have

to observe the night sky are your eyes.

You might see as many as a couple thousand stars.

Astronomers like me want to find more stars,

and we want to learn more about them.

So to do that, we need bigger eyeballs.

This is the Hale Telescope at Palomar Observatory,

and it's a huge telescope; it's a really giant eyeball.

This is Dr. Mark Perfowski, and he's an astronomer

working here at Palomar Observatory.

What's it like to use this telescope?

- It's truly awe-inspiring.

It's one of the largest telescopes in the world,

and we make amazing discoveries with it.

- What are some of the basic parts?

I mean, I see here this big stocky looking thing,

and we got another tubey looking thing.

- There's a primary mirror, and this is what does

all the light collecting.

This is a, uh, -inch mirror.

This is why it's called the -inch.

- inches of mirror?

inches is bigger than two big school desks combined.

- And then, in addition to the primary mirror,

you have a secondary; so the light comes in,

and it bounces off the primary, and then comes up,

hits a bunch of smaller mirrors,

and then comes down to your instrument.

- So the light from the stars comes all the way down

and hits this mirror and then it goes up to that one

right there and goes back down, all the way down again...

- To those boxes.

- And inside those boxes are cameras,

the eyes of the telescope.

- We've been doing science with this telescope

for years, and we're still making

groundbreaking discoveries.

- And with an eyeball that big, I can't wait to see

what we discover next.

Good luck making your own groundbreaking discoveries

with the Hale Telescope.

- ♪ Jet Propulsion ♪

[together] Ready! Jet! Go!

[upbeat music]

♪ ♪

- Jet Propulsion! - Jet Propulsion!

- Jet Propulsion!

[together] Ready! Jet! Go!