[FPSPACE] Could Venus watch for Earth-bound asteroids?

[LARRY KLAES]

Could Venus watch for Earth-bound asteroids?

17:25 09 March 2007

NewScientist.com news service

David L Chandler

A dedicated space-based telescope is needed to achieve a congressionally 
mandated goal of discovering 90% of all near-Earth asteroids down to a size 
of 140 metres by the year 2020, says a report NASA sent to the US Congress 
on Thursday. Asteroids of that size are large enough to destroy a major city 
or region if they strike the planet – but NASA says it does not have the 
money to pay for the project.

The study says Venus is the best place for the telescope. That is because 
space rocks within Earth's orbit – where Venus lies – are most likely to be 
lost in the Sun's glare, potentially catching astronomers off guard. The 
telescope could be placed either behind or ahead of Venus in its orbit by 
about 60° – the stable Lagrange points, known as L4 or L5, where the gravity 
of the Sun and Venus are in balance.

http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn11356-could-venus-watch-for-earthbound-asteroids.html