Small Asteroid On Collision Course With Earth 397
musatov writes "There's talk on The Minor Planet Mailing List about a small asteroid approaching Earth with a 99.8% probability of colliding. The entrance to the Earth's atmosphere will take place October 7 at 0246 UTC (2:35 after this story goes live) over northern Sudan, releasing the energy of about a kiloton of TNT. The asteroid is assumed to be 3-4 meters in size; it is expected to burn up completely in the atmosphere, causing no harm. As a powerful bolide, it may put on quite a show in the sky. For those advanced enough in astronomy to observe, check the MPEC 2008-T50 and MPEC 2008-T64 circulars. NASA's JPL Small Body Database has a 3D orbit view. The story has been already picked up by CNN and NASA."
it's the end of the world and... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Oh jeez... (Score:5, Funny)
2 hours gives CERN plenty of time to aim the LHC at the asteroid and obliterate it with a black hole.
Don't watch it (Score:2, Funny)
Instead, watch it through a pinhole cut into some cardboard.
It's Pluto... (Score:5, Funny)
Good News Everyone... (Score:5, Funny)
Since it is such a small asteroid we can save some money. We don't need to send an all-star cast to blow it up, we only need to send one celebrity.
I suggest Bruce Willis, since we can save even more money not having to worry about the return trip.
Re:Jesus my chest. (Score:5, Funny)
The next big one could come any time and kill us all. If it was really the end of the world would they let us know?
I sure that Slashdot would report it at least twice.
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Good News Everyone... (Score:5, Funny)
Please can we send Tom Cruise instead??
Because the LHC failed... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Jesus my chest. (Score:3, Funny)
The odds of it landing on you even if were tough enough to survive atmospheric entry are pretty remote.
The odds are astronomical, even! Hell, the odds are on a galactic scale! Why, the odds are so big, they make space look small!
Thank, you, thank you, I'm here all....Hey! What's with the giant hooooooooook....
Re:Is this really news? (Score:1, Funny)
RTFA.
No!
Re:Bomb Sudan!!! (Score:4, Funny)
And in other news, the asteroid was found to have large amounts of Naquadah in it.
We're all going to die! (Score:5, Funny)
a small asteroid approaching Earth with a 99.8% probability of colliding
O-M-G We're all going to die! It's the end of the world! Run! Agh, forget that, you'll just die tired! I'm freaking out! I'm freaking out!
The asteroid is assumed to be 3-4 meters in size...
This has been a test of the emergency end of the world system. Has this been the actual end of the world you would have been given explicit instructions to bend over and kiss your ass good bye.
This concludes this test of the emergency end of the world system.
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:4, Funny)
So then, would a big asteroid just be an aster? Or .... never mind.
Re:Good News Everyone... (Score:1, Funny)
Please can we send Tom Cruise instead??
No, he won't come out of the closet.
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I hope it hits Barack Obama (Score:5, Funny)
Well, call me a Washin'ton out-cider, don'cha know, betcha', shucks, all I gotta' do is wink and sure, by golly, that asteroid'll collide with Obama fer sure. 'Cause he's a terrist celebrity, by golly, gosh, so dangerous, and I'd like ta' ignore that question and talk 'bout energy.
Sincerely;
Sarah Palin
Re:Jesus my chest. (Score:5, Funny)
And at least the first report would come in only a few days after it happened!
Oh wait..
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:4, Funny)
I stand corrected; had my oids, eors, and ites crossed.
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:5, Funny)
Cost! (Score:5, Funny)
Asteroid is free, Meteor is expensive - costs anywhere from 50 to 99 MP to cast, depending on which FF you're playing.
I'd use an Asteroid over Meteor any day.
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:5, Funny)
So, a Dwarf Asteroid then?
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:4, Funny)
Then once they've fully entered the atmosphere astronomers refer to them as "Cosmic World Destroyers.".
But only for a short time.
Re:Jesus my chest. (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Don't watch it (Score:3, Funny)
Sadly, I haven't seen any triffids today.
Re:Don't watch it (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Jesus my chest. (Score:3, Funny)
What difference will it make if you aren't a survivor, you have better odds of being sued by the **AA's than that.
Re:Awesome! (Score:2, Funny)
Only if you try to change the past.
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:2, Funny)
'Not big enough' sounds like another planet/not-a-planet argument with vaugely defined criteria.
There are some emails in my spam box that think they might be able to help it out ...
Re:Scary... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Scary... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Cost! (Score:5, Funny)
I'm playing on the Super Nintendo.
It's called METEO, you insenstive clod!
Re:We're all going to die! (Score:3, Funny)
I thought that if the world was going to end we were meant to lie down or put a paper bag over our head or something. That's what they told us in the Army...
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Jesus my chest. (Score:4, Funny)
Don't get me started on the "if I was a god" thing... If I was a god you'd best get sacrificing some virgins and stuffs.
Abandon hope all yee who live! (Score:5, Funny)
Happens Every Day (Score:3, Funny)
We call them "shooting stars", and wish on them.
This one is a "collision asteroid" because it's good marketing for Star Wars "missile defense" gussied up for more recent Hollywood treatment like _Deep Impact_.
Re:Because the LHC failed... (Score:2, Funny)
I'll keep trying, I have to get it right eventually.
- Your Pal the Anti-Christ
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:5, Funny)
Asteroid, meteoroid or hemorrhoid; what does it matter? They're all a pain in the ass.
Re:Is it over? (Score:1, Funny)
I'll just check to the computer...............
Computer says 'NO'
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:0, Funny)
Nah... it's Dad having an orgasm.
Re:We're all going to die! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:3, Funny)
And in the atmosphere it's called hail.
Re:Scary... (Score:5, Funny)
Well it was only two hours by the time I posted that, but truth be told I'm out a microwave right now. I make my popcorn by putting the bag on top of my wireless router and firing up a bittorent.
Size doesn't matter (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:2, Funny)
At which point, all the dead will wake up, society will crumble, and then we'll have much more important things to worry about than what to call it.
Just saying, is all.
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:2, Funny)
You forgot:
D) Wakes up all the dead.
Which reminds me, I have to update my Zombie Action Plan.
Re:Asteroid? Why not meteor? (Score:4, Funny)
And an asteroid breaking in two would be two hemorrhoids?
Re:The correct term (Score:3, Funny)
hemi-roid?