2010 AL30, Asteroid Or Space Junk, To Pay a Close Visit 136
astroengine writes "A near-Earth object that could be manmade has just been discovered hurtling toward us. On Wednesday (Jan. 13), an object called 2010 AL30 will fly by Earth at a distance of just 130,000 km (80,000 miles). That's only one-third of the way from here to the moon, i.e. very close. It will miss us, and if it did hit us, it wouldn't do any damage anyway, but I managed to pick up on some chatter between planetary scientists and found out that the 'asteroid,' or whatever it is, gives us a new standard: a 10-meter-wide asteroid can be detected two days before it potentially hits Earth. A pretty useful warning if you ask me."
Doesn't mean anything (Score:4, Insightful)
The fact that we've detected a 10m wide object once, a couple of days before it hits (or doesn't hit), doesn't mean anything. It might be that we can detect every such object or one in a million.
Re:Two days? (Score:3, Insightful)
sounds like a recipe for carnage if the projected impact zone is a highly populated area. hey everyone in new york city - you have two days to clear the city - ready,steady,go!
although that carnage is neither here nor there when the alternative is being obliterated instantly.
That's your own fault (Score:5, Insightful)
If you do not always have at least one (preferably at least four) weeks of food and water handy then you're daft anyways. We've grown so complacent and soft. I'm not a survivalist per se but we keep plenty of food stores and several gallons of potable water handy in case of a natural (or even unnatural) disaster.
As for getting to high ground, well you chose where you live :)
A what where now?! (Score:4, Insightful)
Even more alarming is where I heard it first...on frackin Slashdot!
* me nervous
Re:Two days? (Score:4, Insightful)
Why would this be different?
You've never tried to get on the R line at 08:15. (Score:3, Insightful)
There's no such thing as a patient New Yorker. Not a living one anyway.