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Near Earth Objects (NEOs) are comets or asteroids whose orbit brings them close to the earth.
Plans for the centre will be sought from a range of academic institutions, museums and public awareness centres. The government will contribute STG250,000 for the first three years, after which the centre must finance itself.
Science Minister Lord Sainsbury said that there are currently no known NEOs on a collision course with the Earth. "While the risk of being hit is very remote, the potential for damage exists," he added. It is estimated that the earth is hit by an NEO roughly once every century.
A spokesperson of the Department of Trade and Industry said that more and more people are interested in NEO's because of science fiction films. "That's why it's important to inform people about it."
The government's invitation represents the latest step in the four-point package it announced last February in response to recommendations made last year by the Near Earth Object Task Force.
The centre will have a fully interactive exhibition, will host a Web site and provide education packs. It will explain the value of observation on the ground for detecting and tracking NEO's, but also highlight the importance of space missions to increase understanding of their characteristics.
The interested organisations have until October to work on their plans. It is expected the centre will open the end of this year. "We think it is likely the NEO centre will be part of an already existing centre," the spokesperson said.
The location of the centre has not yet been decided, but it is understood that the facility will be part of an existing museum or university.
The Earth's atmosphere only protects it against NEO's that have a diameter measuring less than 50 metres, but larger objects can penetrate the Earth's atmosphere. NEO's are asteroids or comets that are believed to be remnants from the formation of planets. Most asteroids are composed of rock, while comets can be a mixture of rock, organic molecules and frozen gases.
The move by the British Government comes in response to a set of 14 recommendations made by the Near Earth Object Task Force report on the potential threat of NEOs. The task force's report highlighted the UK's role both domestically and internationally in researching and combating the perceived threats.
The task force commissioned by the government to study the issue included Dr. Harry Atkinson, formerly of the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) and former chairman of the European Space Agency's Council. Sir Crispin Tickell, British diplomat, and professor David Williams, former president of the Royal Astronomical Society, assisted Atkinson. The report concluded that any effort put forth by the UK to combat NEOs should be done on a global basis.
The report also concluded that the UK has a great deal to offer an international research force including a strong track record in astronomy, a wide field survey telescope in the southern hemisphere (VISTA) and the UK Infrared Telescope in the northern hemisphere as well as particular skills in telescope design and construction in both academia and industry.
Additionally, UK industry produces what are currently the state of the art CCD imaging chips for astronomical use, a key technology for Near Earth Object study.
For more information visit http://www.nearearthobjects.co.uk.
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