Large Asteroid Impact Likely -- But Not For A While 38
PhxBlue writes: "Astronomy.com has released a report, submitted to the 5 April Science magazine, that an asteroid known as 1950 DA has 1:300 odds of impacting Earth and causing widespread devastation. The good news is, the impact wouldn't happen until 16 March 2880; and the solutions suggested by the scientists don't involve Tea Leoni or Bruce Willis."
Re:was about to send in... (Score:1)
solar nudgeing? (Score:1)
Now this is a cool idea. If they make it white on one end and black on the other maybe they could make it spin. If this were possible, could they create a cloud of dust between the asteroid and the sun for a temporary effect?
Re:solar nudgeing? (Score:1)
Re:solar nudgeing? (Score:1)
Re:solar nudgeing? (Score:1)
Re:solar nudgeing? (Score:2)
Another article (Score:1)
That's worrying... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:That's worrying... (Score:2)
Chris Beckenbach
Re:That's worrying... (Score:1)
Come on, it shouldn't be that hard. I'd swear that there are millions of people out there that have managed to get a working immorality serum...
Well since you've got a working immorality serum you should have any problem with selling Violet Null some of that immortality serum since (he/she/it) is having problems making their own.
Re:That's worrying... (Score:2)
Immortality is a solved problem. You just need some magnetic pinky rings. [alexchiu.com]
BTW, if anyone needs a volunteer to study the effects of impact with Téa Leoni, well, I'd be willing to sacrifice myself. For the good of humanity, you know...
What the Scientists were *really* thinking... (Score:4, Funny)
You know damn well at some point, there WAS a solution involving Ms. Leoni and Mr. Willis: Launch them now at the asteroid with sufficient velocity to alter its course by the fraction of a degree needed.
The beauty of this plan is that it's cheap (no fancy-pants ships or suits needed), humanity benefits, and with luck, they'll keep Aerosmith on standby in case they need more mass...
GTRacer
- It's a JOKE. It's not a threat, okay?
Re:What the Scientists were *really* thinking... (Score:1)
Re:Bruce willis (Score:1)
Since when is 1:300 *LIKELY* (Score:1, Informative)
At any rate, and physicist or astronomer will tell you that the uncertainty in these equations is enormous, and that there's a 1/300 chance that the odds 1/300 are even correct.
Re:Since when is 1:300 *LIKELY* (Score:2)
Let's get our pop references right! (Score:2)
Note to the people of 2880! (Score:2, Funny)
newscientist link (Score:2)
Here's the link [newscientist.com] I used for the NewScientist version. I guess the most interesting thing about this is the theory of shrink-wrapping. I think most of the rest of it is just speculation.
Near Earth Orbit page for this object (Score:4, Informative)
And while you are there, don't forget to print out a copy of http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/ [nasa.gov] to put on your wall, preferably next to the ship date or schedule for your latest project. Makes an excellent background for your desktop also
Make note of 2000 SG344 [nasa.gov], which has a cumulative 1 in 1300 chance of hitting us in the period of 2068-2101 also.
Or go to the Java Orbital Diagram [nasa.gov] and check out August 2049 for Asteroid 2002 CU11
When was the last time you bought a lottery ticket ? What are the odds on that-life changing event, vs the odds on that page ?
Here ends my happy thoughts for the day
Re:Near Earth Orbit page for this object (Score:2)
You Evil Bastard...
Re:Near Earth Orbit page for this object (Score:1)
When was the last time you bought a lottery ticket ? What are the odds on that-life changing event, vs the odds on that page ?
This rock will hit earth long before the project I'm on makes its ship date. . .
Re:Near Earth Orbit page for this object (Score:1)
So 1950DA doubles our chance? Neat.
copyright extension (Score:2)
engrave it in a rock (Score:3, Insightful)
I mean, personally, I don't think it's too far fetched that by the time the 29th century rolls around, humans aren't coming out of some kind of dark age and are just getting back into exploring the solar system and stuff.
Wouldn't they appreciate a heads up on what might kill them?
It would be a shame to let all the info go to waste.
Re:engrave it in a rock (Score:1)
Re:engrave it in a rock (Score:2)
The Roman Empire lasted for over a thousand years and they created or used ingenious technology (like the arch, concrete, etc.) but some of that technology disappeared after the Empire collapsed a little over a thousand years ago.
The Greeks also had discovered a lot of science that was only preserved by the people of the Middle East.
The great library at Alexandria was sacked and I think burned to the ground several thousand years ago.
Who knows what gems of knowledge were destroyed in that great library that have taken thousands of years to rediscover.
Maybe we should bury a Cray supercomputer endowed with AI in an underground bunker ala the old Star Trek episode where Kirk was known as Keerock!
i hope... (Score:1)
...but also we have the common sense not to use those weapons on our own people...
Re:i hope... (Score:1)
Just my two cents.
just a test (Score:2)