Join the Science Cafe for a talk and Q&A with Professor Andrew McNeill at Grounds For Thought. This event is open to the public, so anyone is welcome to join! We will have free coffee and cakes (please contact sciencecafes@bgsu.edu for any dietary concerns).“The Shape, Spin and Structure of Small Bodies in our Solar System”There are over 1.4 million known minor planets in our Solar System, leftover pieces from its formation. Studying these objects gives us some ‘archaeological’ insight into the early days of our Solar System but also has practical importance. Asteroid impacts are the most credible threat we face from the cosmos and understanding what potential impactors are made of, their shape and how they spin is critical for any planetary defense effort. In this talk, Andrew McNeill will cover his recent research into the properties of these objects as well as look forward to the next decade of asteroid science using facilities ranging from the BGSU Observatory to the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST).Autobiographical statement from Andrew:“I am an observational and computational astronomer interested in the rotational and shape properties of small objects within our Solar System. To do this I have used telescopes across several continents to measure the brightness of these objects with time and how this varies in the short and long term. This allows me to learn a lot about the behavior of these objects as well as their internal structure. In my early research days observing let me rack up plenty of air miles but with the advent of more and more robotic facilities and space-based telescopes I am able to carry out a lot more of my work from the comfort of Bowling Green. I am also the new director of the BGSU Observatory, which we aim to be a source of student practical training and research for many years to come."