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Captain Lyerly
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« on: March 01, 2012, 02:45:37 pm » |
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As we know it. Again. This time by space object impact. NASA has found a NEO (Near Earth Object) with a projected path that intersects ours in 2040. http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/320383NASA has identified a near-Earth object (NEO), an asteroid 460 feet (140 meter) wide, that may hit the Earth in 2040. Asteroid 2011 AG5, discovered in January 2011, is now considered "high risk" and could be in a catastrophic collision course with Earth.
JPL NASA reports astronomers are saying that more observations of the trajectory of the space rock are needed to confirm that it is on a direct collision course with the Earth; but they succeeded in placing the asteroid on the agenda of the 49th session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) held this month in Vienna.
Twenty-eight years seems like enough time to get our affairs in order... or get rid of that silly rock. Either breaking it up or re-directing it should be simple enough, given the lead time we have on it. But it is nice that we have the ability to detect and predict on such a scale, as well. Cheers! Chas. |
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« Last Edit: March 01, 2012, 06:58:12 pm by Captain Lyerly »
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Captain Sir Charles A. Lyerly, O.B.T.
Soldier of Fortune and Gentleman Adventurer
wire: captain_lyerly, at wire office "Yahoo dot Qom"
"You'd think he'd learn."
"Heh! De best minions neffer do!"
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helios
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« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2012, 03:10:19 pm » |
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Ah, drat. Time to fire up the space laser.
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In smoggiest day, in sooted night no ignorance shall escape my sight. Let those who worship ignorance's might, beware my power... Brass Goggles light! |
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bicyclebuilder
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« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2012, 03:23:35 pm » |
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If you give me 1 billion, gagillion, fafillion, shabolubalu million illion yillion ... yen I will shoot my big friggin' "laser" at the "Asteroid" #evil laugh# moohahahaha moohahahaha moohahahaha moohahahaha No really, 18 years? They can calculate the speed, traject and acuracy of this asteroid (and probably a couple of dozen more), with all the trajects of all the other planets and moons in our solar system? Koschny, according to Space.com, said: "In our Action Team 14 discussions, we thus concluded that it not necessarily can be called a 'real' threat. To do that, ideally, we should have at least one, if not two, full orbits observed."
What if this orbit IS the one that hits earth? |
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The best way to learn is by personal experience.
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Lady Chrystal
Immortal
 Wales
Lady Adventurer, Chronicler
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« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2012, 03:24:28 pm » |
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... NASA has found a NEO (Near Earth Object) with a projected path that intersects ours in 2040.
Eighteen years seems like enough time to get our affairs in order... or get rid of that silly rock. Either breaking it up or re-directing it should be simple enough, given the lead time we have on it.
Erm - shouldn't that be 28 years...? #runs for cover# |
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"The Chrystal? Ah, now - that would be telling."
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chicar
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« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2012, 03:38:28 pm » |
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Eighteen years seems like enough time to get our affairs in order... or get rid of that silly rock. Either breaking it up or re-directing it should be simple enough, given the lead time we have on it.
Well, seeing how we spend our ahead time on global warming, i won't be so optimistic. |
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''They are movements so perfect you hardly think they were made by humans''
-Omega Co-Axial Chronometer
A smile cost less that electricity but bring as much light.
-Abbot Pierre
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Mercury Wells
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« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2012, 04:00:36 pm » |
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My solutions:- Giant trampolines 8-9 miles high, should be built to save the earth. If that isn't feasable, a huge harpoon/magnet fired at the asteroid from the moon to hold it long enough to settle down in a orbit, so we can then start mining it.  |
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Professor J. Cogsworthy
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« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2012, 04:14:50 pm » |
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We could cover Earth with a thick layer of rubber bands turning the earth into a giant rubber band ball.
or we could 'Nerf' the Earth... ( making it into Earf? )
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No, no no, a thousand times no. Its pronounced - lah-BOHR-ah-tor-ee
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bicyclebuilder
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« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2012, 04:18:01 pm » |
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... NASA has found a NEO (Near Earth Object) with a projected path that intersects ours in 2040.
Eighteen years seems like enough time to get our affairs in order... or get rid of that silly rock. Either breaking it up or re-directing it should be simple enough, given the lead time we have on it.
Erm - shouldn't that be 28 years...? #runs for cover# it should be 28 years. So an object of 140 meter in diameter will hit our 12.756 km diameter earth in 28 years? To bring it sort of to proportion: they can calculate a grain of sand hitting a tennisball about 100km away? Is that about size right? Let's say the average asteroid travels at 21 km per second, that's 75600km/h, 1814400km per day. 662256000km per year. times 28 years, that's 18543168000km away from earth. And you're telling me they can calculate the impact? I guess we will find out in 18 28 years. |
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Mr. Boltneck
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« Reply #8 on: March 01, 2012, 06:05:03 pm » |
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Last I checked, there was still considerable uncertainty about the orbit. Future observations should define its likely trajectory.
This is much less likely to cause worldwide trouble in the event of impact than, say, Apophis, but anything in the 100m-plus size range can definitely give any inhabited areas a really bad time. Based on recent calculations of the effects of "limited" nuclear exchanges on modern mega-cities, something this size vaporizing right above Los Angeles, Rio, or Delhi could cause some real trouble for everyone, not just the people in the blast radius.
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KABAR2
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« Reply #9 on: March 01, 2012, 06:33:54 pm » |
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As long as nobody names it Wormwood we'll be fine.......
otherwise be looking for the anti-christ to be around somewhere.......
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Alter-ego Baron Rinehold Tredmore on Sparegoggles
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Captain Lyerly
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« Reply #10 on: March 01, 2012, 07:02:30 pm » |
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Yes, the chances - even if their calculations are sufficient, which they say they are not - are slight. 1 in over 600 that it would even hit the Earth anywhere.... so how they have it figured that it would be February 5, 2040 boggles my mind.
Essentially there is a "keyhole" that it is expected to pass through some years hence, where the influence of other bodies will change its orbit - which, some years after that, will give it a chance to intersect the Earth.
But that 1 chance out of 600 is what will run their budget for asteroid study for the next ten years.
Cheers!
Chas.
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Captain Marcus Stahlsturm
Gunner
 England
Scoundrel, rascal, pirate captain and philosopher
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« Reply #11 on: March 01, 2012, 09:34:29 pm » |
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Meh, even if they fail to stop the asteroid in the next 28 years and it hits the Earth, the end of the world won't be the end of humanity. Part of me actually wishes it brings about the apocalypse, destroys technology and we have to start again with steam power and clockwork. I may finally get that airship  |
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"zombies Cap'n, thousands of 'em!"
"How many thousands, matey?"
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Atterton
Master Tinkerer
Only The Shadow knows
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« Reply #12 on: March 01, 2012, 09:40:58 pm » |
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I'm afraid this asteroid wouldn't be big enough to destroy the Earth. We'd more likely see a large city wiped off the map.
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In space, no one can hear you steam.
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akumabito
Immortal
 Netherlands
Mundus Patria Nostra!
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« Reply #13 on: March 01, 2012, 09:44:58 pm » |
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I'm afraid this asteroid wouldn't be big enough to destroy the Earth. We'd more likely see a large city wiped off the map.
Followed by economic collapse and the like.. it'll be FUN and EXCITING! (except maybe for the potential dath of millions) |
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Atterton
Master Tinkerer
Only The Shadow knows
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« Reply #14 on: March 01, 2012, 10:00:16 pm » |
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It could be it will be a city we don't really like. Or maybe it will hit Siberia again. The dust from the impact might give us another year without a summer though.
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akumabito
Immortal
Netherlands
Mundus Patria Nostra!
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« Reply #15 on: March 01, 2012, 10:20:56 pm » |
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Well, if the thing hits, there's a 70% chance it'll hit water.. the tsunami's caused by that would be interesting.. Neil DeGrasse Tyson on Apophis:
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