Meet Backyard Astronomer Robert Holmes

Backyard astronomer Robert Holmes of Westfield, Illinois, is part of NASA's army of observers scanning the night sky for asteroids. By observing and tracking asteroids, NASA programs can determine whether an asteroid is potentially hazardous to Earth -- now or years in the future. In 2015, Bob made 36,000 asteroid observations -- the most by anyone in a single year. He started off as a volunteer in 2006, and his hobby has since blossomed into a full-time opportunity to work for NASA under a grant program

Credit: NASA JPL