Projects
Observing Earth
Whatever the causes, the global warming crisis is real and the need for continual observations urgent.
The recent UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and US National Research Council report provide a frightening litany of catastrophes already beginning to manifest themselves worldwide, and an urgent reminder of how space observations can provide crucial data to help deal with them.
In 2007 The Planetary Society took an important new step: We added the Earth to our mission. Our mission statement now reads: "To inspire the people of Earth to explore other worlds, understand our own, and seek life elsewhere."
Ours is a vital role, because -- after all -- space technology revolutionized the study of Earth's climate. Our early explorations of Venus and Mars were critical to understanding dust storms and runaway greenhouse effects.
Planetary science has taught us these lessons, but we have much more to learn. We explore other worlds to understand this one. Only by seeing Earth as one planet among many can we truly understand our own pale blue dot of a world.
The question is: how can we help? Join our efforts to see Earth as a planet and compare it with other worlds that have suffered catastrophic climate change. We are joining the Working Group on Earth Observation and Climate Change, and planning a special issue of The Planetary Report on PLANET EARTH.
Someday an asteroid or comet could strike Earth and trigger almost instantaneous change. Everyone knows space technology will play an even bigger role as the world seeks ways to confront this potentially devastating environmental crisis.
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