it's bugged me since I first saw the movie Armagedden. In it, when they reach the astaroid, the film depicts fires burning openly and strong winds. Is that possible in outer space?
2006-08-13 14:45:42 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Generally speaking, no. Outer space = vacuum = no wind (aside from solar wind, which is completely different).
However, in this particular movie, they stated that the rock is massive and dense, therefore providing some gravity. Along with gravity comes atmosphere. With atmosphere, wind is possible.
Being Hollywood, I'm not sure if the exact technical values of the asteroid having wind would be plausible in real life... but that one line in the movie does make it so.
Hope this helps.
-Daniel
2006-08-13 14:51:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
They were not fires or atmospheric winds.
You are referring to the part where the comet's rotation starts to bring the side the drillers are working on into the sun.
Soon as the sun hits that part of the comet, all hell breaks loose. The gases within the comet nucleus start to boil and you get mini eruptions from every hole in the surface. There would be all kinds of gases boiling off, including oxygen required for the explosions that were depicted.
The winds would be blasts of explosive gases.
This is why comets have tails. The movie depicted it well.
What wasn't too well researched was the size of the thing - as big as Texas, the guy said. That is a bit silly because, a comet of that size would be visible perhaps a year in advance, not the few weeks that Brucey and the boys had to prepare for the mission.
Otherwise a good movie. I've seen it about 4 times and enjoyed it every time.
2006-08-13 22:07:43 · answer #2 · answered by nick s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no such thing as a silly question. Except for that one.
Unless an object is in some sort of atmosphere with oxygen or has its own, you wouldn't get fires and explosions. Winds can come from any gas, but you would still need some. So strong winds would be tough to imagine as well.
Outside of that, though, the movie is pure accuracy.
2006-08-13 21:51:50 · answer #3 · answered by iandanielx 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am trying to remember the fire. Wasn't it when the shuttle exploded or something? Then there was some temporary oxygen for fuel. I don't remember wind, but i do remember gaseous explosions which would create a blast. I'll have to watch it again. Dude I've seen it like 9 times! Great film!
2006-08-13 21:52:21 · answer #4 · answered by extremelyradicalman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not really. Flames need oxygen to ignite and burn, although they can use other chemicals like phosphorus, it looks very different (color, size of flames, etc). There is no wind without matter, such as air molecules, which can in fact be attracted to and surround an asteroid. I have never seen the movie
2006-08-13 21:52:57 · answer #5 · answered by TwilightWalker97 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That movie has perhaps the most outright bad science ever depicted in a single movie...the "Bad Astronomer" has a review of the movie which I'm guessing you will find interesting: http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/movies/armpitageddon.html
2006-08-14 02:41:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think you would need atmosphere for wind and for fire to burn openly you need oxygen and as far as i know you dont have much if any there
2006-08-13 21:51:13 · answer #7 · answered by ♥♫§weetTart§amantha♫♥ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a look at this web link about bad astronomy in the movies etc.
2006-08-13 23:33:17 · answer #8 · answered by Mika K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no- there's no oxygen for fire and no pressure changes or oxygen for wind
2006-08-13 21:48:58 · answer #9 · answered by 'Blank' 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
doubt it b/c there is no oxygen in space...unless the asteriod has oxygen on the surface...
2006-08-13 21:49:09 · answer #10 · answered by ξℓ Çђαηφσ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋