just read it on yahoo...they say it will pass earth from about as far away as the moon....I'm not too cool with this. what if theres a chance of it hitting us and they dont say cause if they are wrong they know were dead anyway.I'm not usually skeptical...but this is a big chunk of rock
2006-06-26 18:02:04 · 13 answers · asked by cassiepiehoney 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Relax!! On the NASA/JPL website where all such objects are tracked and listed, the asteroid you mention has such a vanishingly small chance of striking Earth that it's not even given a risk factor. The object (2004 XP14) has been tracked for two years and its orbit precisely plotted and absolutely no danger at this late date exists for it to strike Earth. To do so, its current orbit around the sun would have to be drastically altered and there's nothing that can do such a thing.
2006-06-26 18:53:21 · answer #1 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 11⤊ 1⤋
excerpt from link
An asteroid possibly as large as a half-mile or more in diameter is rapidly approaching the Earth. There is no need for concern, for no collision is in the offing, but the space rock will make an exceptionally close approach to our planet early on Monday, July 3, passing just beyond the Moon’s average distance from Earth.
Astronomers will attempt to get a more accurate assessment of the asteroid’s size by “pinging” it with radar.
And skywatchers with good telescopes and some experience just might be able to get a glimpse of this cosmic rock as it streaks rapidly past our planet in the wee hours Monday. The closest approach occurs late Sunday for West Coast skywatchers in the United States.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13556129/
I think the scientists have their Newtonian physics down pat so I am not concerned.
But it drives home the point that such things ARE out there and next time we may not be so lucky.
2006-06-26 18:14:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As you can read in the Yahoo article, the asteroid 2004 XP14
will pass the earth on 2006-Jul-03 *outside* the orbit of the moon. So the chance of hitting us this time is zero.
The 2004 in the name means that the asteroid was first seen in that year, meaning that there has been ample time to measure the orbit accurately.
PS Please give me my ten points before Monday, if you are still not sure.
2006-06-26 18:14:47 · answer #3 · answered by cordefr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cosmically speaking 270,000 miles is close, yet, whats up, a bypass over continues to be a bypass over. in case you want something to agonize about--there'll be 2 of them nicely in the orbit of the Moon in 2029.
2016-11-15 07:41:12 · answer #4 · answered by garneau 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't Panic!
Not much else we can do but trust they are right - unless you have a spaceship? Or maybe you know Ford Prefect, (Hitchhikers guide).
I would like to watch it pass by. I am trying to get some information about times and direction to view it from Noosa in Queensland.
Rob
2006-06-26 18:26:12 · answer #5 · answered by robert c 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
July 3rd, 2006 just does not seem like the date on which 85% of the human population will perish, so I'm going with my hunch and saying no.
2006-06-26 18:12:12 · answer #6 · answered by Robert S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any disaster hits women before it hits anything else therefore whether it hits the earth is only half the worry! ...Don't boil over. Cool it, Girl!!
2006-06-26 18:34:08 · answer #7 · answered by Gr8 Gy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The asteroid has been well observed and the distance at which it will miss us is well known to pretty high accuracy, so no need to worry.
2006-06-27 04:11:10 · answer #8 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get your news from the bible all the info you'll ever need is there.
2006-06-26 18:05:42 · answer #9 · answered by GTO 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh well. What kinds of things do you want to do before we all bite it?
2006-06-26 18:06:16 · answer #10 · answered by TrickMeNicely 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋