Comet May Have Missed Earth By a Few hundred Kilometers 265
First time accepted submitter afree87 writes "A re-analysis of historical observations at a Mexican observatory suggests Earth narrowly avoided an extinction event just over a hundred years ago. On August 12th and 13th 1883, an astronomer at a small observatory in Zacatecas in Mexico made an extraordinary observation, some 450 objects, each surrounded by a kind of mist, passing across the face of the Sun. This month, Hector Manterola at the National Autonomous University of Mexico suggests these were fragments of a comet. 'If they had collided with Earth we would have had 3275 Tunguska events in two days, probably an extinction event.'"
Typical Slashdot comments pattern to follow... (Score:5, Insightful)
How Slashdotters approach all scientific articles:
1. Abounding skepticism.
2. Criticism of scientist's findings and methods used.
3. Explanation of failed logic.
4. Loss of all wonder and awe and appreciation at whatever findings remain.
5 Cynicism and dejection at failure of science.
6. Continued existence of misery and woe and greater skepticism.
My tongue is jammed up against my cheek; otherwise, I'd say more. God bless.
Re:*shiver* (Score:5, Insightful)
>best not to think of these things
What an idiotic thing to say. Yes, there are people who think about these things and they try to come up with practical solutions. Yeah, let's not think about this. Someone might come up with a way of diverting certain death some day.
>keeping a comet secret in this day and age.
Good luck with that.
There are thousands of amateur astronomers across just the US alone and we've got the internet and everyone would know within hours of discovery anyway.
--
BMO
Re:Typical Slashdot comments pattern to follow... (Score:3, Insightful)
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. Being extraordinarily skeptical isn't a bad thing, and is part of the scientific method. It IS a good thing.
Extraordinary claims without skepticism isn't science, it is religion.
Re:I call BS. (Score:4, Insightful)
"Statistically, there's no way you would still be alive if you were hit by a car every single day. What a lair!"
Re:Typical Slashdot comments pattern to follow... (Score:4, Insightful)
Most Slashdot reactions are not skepticism, they are knee-jerk reactions over information that challenges their vision of things. Actual skepticism would involve attempting to verify claims as opposed to dismissing them outright.
Re:*shiver* (Score:4, Insightful)
Yes, I would, so I could go on TV and say "See? I've been telling you we need to spend more money on space science! But no...! Now we're all screwed because you all wanted another tax cut for your bosses!"