The National Science Foundation Division of Astronomical Sciences awarded a $366,436 three-year Project Grant under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) to the University of Illinois. This grant will enable collaborative research on near-Earth asteroids, leveraging data from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time. The research aims to better characterize the distribution, evolution, and physical properties of near-Earth asteroids, including potentially hazardous ones, by combining data science and solar system dynamics. The project will produce publicly accessible databases and look-up tables through a well-documented web application programming interface to benefit the broader scientific community. Additionally, the project will introduce a new guided learning initiative to enhance early science engagement among underrepresented student populations.
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