Surprise Asteroid Makes Near-Miss of Earth
Monday, March 02, 2009
Wait! Did you hear that whooshing sound?
A small asteroid buzzed by Earth Monday, though only real astronomy geeks in the Pacific would have noticed.
The rock, estimated to be no more than 200 feet wide, zoomed past our planet at an altitude of 40,000 miles at 1:44 p.m. universal time — or 8:44 EST.
Dubbed 2009 DD45, it was discovered only on Friday by Australian astronomers.
Forty thousand miles may sound like a lot, but it's only about one-seventh of the way to the moon, and less than twice as far out as many telecommunications satellites.
Had 2009 DD45 hit the Earth, it would have exploded on or near the surface with the force of a large nuclear blast — not very reassuring when you consider humanity had only about three days' notice.
According to the Australian news Web site Crikey, the asteroid is likely to be drawn in by Earth's gravity, meaning it may return for many more near misses in the future.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,503164,00.html
http://www.crikey.com.au...90302-The-intruder.html
DUCK!
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Nightshade
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DUCK!
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"Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun" - Mao Zedong
"Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun" - Mao Zedong
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/0 ... -dd45.html
\"Astronomers had known the asteroid was coming and said there was no risk of collision. Other asteroids have been known to pass by closer to our planet.\"
So there was really no need for panic and the only exciting thing about it would be to see it streak across the sky.
\"Car-sized objects streak into our atmosphere several times a year. Most burn up in the atmosphere or land in the ocean (the planet is two-thirds water).\"
Now there's an interesting statement. How cool would it be to find something like this in the ocean?
\"Astronomers had known the asteroid was coming and said there was no risk of collision. Other asteroids have been known to pass by closer to our planet.\"
So there was really no need for panic and the only exciting thing about it would be to see it streak across the sky.
\"Car-sized objects streak into our atmosphere several times a year. Most burn up in the atmosphere or land in the ocean (the planet is two-thirds water).\"
Now there's an interesting statement. How cool would it be to find something like this in the ocean?
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freak out over something we really have no control over? waste of time and energy.AlphaDoG wrote:This "area" is full of people who SHOULD care.
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and who'd keep the stupids in check? you? LOLSilverFJ wrote:At least it was smart enough to go after the Canadians
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EngDrewman
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Actually there are things that can be done if an asteroid is about to hit- evacuate the projected landing area and try to take it out by firing a missile at it.Ferno wrote:freak out over something we really have no control over? waste of time and energy.AlphaDoG wrote:This "area" is full of people who SHOULD care.
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you think turning an asteroid into a cluster bomb makes it better?EngDrewman wrote:Actually there are things that can be done if an asteroid is about to hit- evacuate the projected landing area and try to take it out by firing a missile at it.
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EngDrewman
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unless we develop a missile defense system! Good 'ol Missile Command baby!Duper wrote:true, true.
I tell my co-workers on Friday when they say "Cya Monday": "Unless we get hit by an asteroid!"
just remember, it's not "if", it's "when".
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Depends on what size the asteroid is in the first place.Floyd wrote:you think turning an asteroid into a cluster bomb makes it better?EngDrewman wrote:Actually there are things that can be done if an asteroid is about to hit- evacuate the projected landing area and try to take it out by firing a missile at it.
Turn a huge rock into lots of big rocks...not good.
Turn a big rock into lots of little rocks...
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that burn up even before they hit the ground.Spidey wrote:Turn a big rock into lots of little rocks...
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It's a good plan - but surely in order to turn those big rocks into little ones (in order to have them burn up before they hit the ground), you have to see them coming.Ferno wrote:that burn up even before they hit the ground.Spidey wrote:Turn a big rock into lots of little rocks...
That means looking for them - which means having people in a room who care enough to look.
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caring about something and having nothing else to do aren't the same thing.Gekko71 wrote: That means looking for them - which means having people in a room who care enough to look.
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CUDA
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SORRY the Great Democrat Messiah just bent over to Russia and told them we'd drop that systemEngDrewman wrote:unless we develop a missile defense system! Good 'ol Missile Command baby!Duper wrote:true, true.
I tell my co-workers on Friday when they say "Cya Monday": "Unless we get hit by an asteroid!"
just remember, it's not "if", it's "when".
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
― Theodore Roosevelt
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BACK TO THE E&C Forum with you!! BACK! BACK I SAY!!CUDA wrote:SORRY the Great Democrat Messiah just bent over to Russia and told them we'd drop that systemEngDrewman wrote:unless we develop a missile defense system! Good 'ol Missile Command baby!Duper wrote:true, true.
I tell my co-workers on Friday when they say "Cya Monday": "Unless we get hit by an asteroid!"
just remember, it's not "if", it's "when".