NASA Asks Delay of Asteroid Reports

.c The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) - If professional stargazers catch sight of an asteroid that might be on a crash course for Earth, the government wants them to keep it quiet about it - for at least 72 hours.

The new procedures aim to avoid panic from mistaken reports of doomsday, like the flurry of worry in March when astronomers reported asteroid 1997XF11 could collide with Earth in 2028. That was soon found to be erroneous.

Astronomers whose work is funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration have agreed for now to keep asteroid and comet discoveries to themselves for 48 hours while more detailed calculations are made, the Los Angeles Times reported today.

The findings would then go to NASA, which would wait another 24 hours before going public.

The new interim procedures are not an attempt to hide anything but to make sure the information is accurate, said scientist Donald Yeomans of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, whose calculations helped dispel the fear asteroid 1997XF11 was headed straight for Earth.

``It is an attempt for the small scientific community that tracks these objects to build a consensus, to determine if an asteroid is a threat,'' he said.

Some scientists question the new push from NASA, saying quick action from astronomers is needed to determine an asteroid's danger.

``I don't think one should be secret about these things,'' said Brian G. Marsden, the director of the International Astronomical Union who made the announcement about 1997XF11's close pass to Earth. ``I think the public would be unhappy.''

NASA officials were ``very upset'' that they first heard of the 1997XF11 threat from reporters. ``Almost all of us found out by press release,'' Yeomans said. ``Clearly that is not the way it should work.''

The first reports estimated it would pass within 30,000 miles of the Earth's center and could possibly collide. That distance was later recalculated at safe distances of 600,000 miles.

Some astronomers say releasing their discoveries quickly and openly is critical. When a new asteroid or comet is discovered, scientists need as many sightings as possible in order to precisely plot its orbit and gauge how close it may pass to Earth.

In many cases, an asteroid gets lost in the star field before its orbit is calculated.

Usually, new observations are immediately reported to the Minor Planet Center, where it is posted on a Web site.

In June, the National Research Council plans to convene astronomers and experts in risk assessment and hazard management meeting to consider how best to release news of potential disaster.

Worries of comet-delivered catastrophe have caught the attention of Hollywood, which this summer delivers two asteroid disaster movies: ``Deep Impact'' and ``Armageddon.''

AP-NY-05-14-98 0614EDT

Copyright 1998 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press.