Star Juice

A once-in-a-gigayear opportunity.

Aldebaran S

It was early June and scientists predicted a close call with an asteroid — a close enough call to alarm practically everyone. Just a few million miles to the right, and the space junk could cause the next mass extinction event.

The world looked to the stars that night. Parents dusted off the old telescopes from their youth or had newer models overnighted. People…