Do you belive that in 2039, and astroid will wipe us out?

Question

I was watching History channel and they stated that in 2039 a huge astroid will wipe us out. It will be a little smaller than U.S. Could it wipe all Earth out? Think about it. I'll be 34 yrs. old. Think about how old you would be. Search it, research it, and imagen how strong 7 atomic bombs would be put togather, and going off togather at the same time! Could it. Please tell me why in your answer.

Answer 1

I too am assuming you mean Apophis (although no 2039 impact possibility has been discussed as far as I know) but it would actually help us to answer your question if the name of the asteroid was quoted and then we can find out something about it for you,

There are NO asteroids the size of the US, The entire asteroid belt (which has some 350,000 members) has a total mass of only 4% of the Moon and Ceres alone accounts for a third of that. Ceres is about 1000 kms in diameter and the next 2 largest asteroids are only just over half that diameter. So I think the journalism and research involved in that programme you watched are suspect.

Although there was initial concern at Christmas 2004 that Apophis might come close to earth in 2029, further observations and recalculation of of its orbit say there is now no possibility of collision in 2029.

As of October 19, 2006 the impact probability for April 13, 2036 is estimated at 1 in 45,000. An additional impact date in 2037 has been identified, however the impact probability for that encounter is 1 in 12.3 million.

It is not huge but a mere 320 metres in diameter. What Wikipedia has to say about a possible impact is this:

"Possible impact effects

It must be stressed that the odds of impact are now known to be very low. Hence, the possible effects of an impact are largely irrelevant.

However, the initial reports resulted in widespread discussion on many Internet forums, including armchair speculation about exactly where Apophis would hit and what would happen when it did.

NASA initially estimated the energy that Apophis would have released if it impacted Earth as the equivalent of 1480 megatons of TNT. A more refined later NASA estimate was 880 megatons. The impacts which created the Barringer Crater or caused the Tunguska event are estimated to be in the 10-20 megaton range. The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa was the equivalent of roughly 200 megatons.

The exact effects of any impact would have varied based on the asteroid's composition, and the location and angle of impact. Any impact would have been extremely detrimental to an area of thousands of square kilometres, but would have been unlikely to have long-lasting global effects, such as the initiation of an impact winter."

IN CONCLUSION

I think you are letting your imagination run riot based on misinformation about the size of the asteroid and the probability of impact. I think you should find out more before jumping to conclusions. A good way to do so is read the pages on NASA's website about all celestial objects which may possibly be a threat to life on earth in the next hundred years.

I have to say you are remarkably articulate for a 1 year old! Are you perhaps 11 and it is a 2029 impact that they were discussing? Because if so, you will be glad to know that a 2029 impact has now been ruled out!

Finally: asteroid sizes. Here are the biggest twenty, You may care to note they are all way out beyond the orbit of Mars and do not ever cross inside Mars' orbit and come anywhere near us. Like 98% of the asteroida in the solar system, they are no threat to us.

Name Diameter (km) Distance from Sun (in AU)
1 Ceres 975×909 2.766
4 Vesta 578×560×458 2.361
2 Pallas 570×525×500 2.773
10 Hygiea 500×385×350 3.137
511 Davida 326 3.170
704 Interamnia 317 3.067
52 Europa 360×315×240 3.101
87 Sylvia 385×265×230 3.490
624 Hektor 370×195 5.203
31 Euphrosyne 256 3.148
15 Eunomia 330×245×205 2.646
65 Cybele 237 3.437
3 Juno 290×240×190 2.668
16 Psyche ~280×230×190 2.919
324 Bamberga 229 2.682
24 Themis 228 3.129
107 Camilla 340×230×140 3.479
45 Eugenia 305×220×145 2.720
121 Hermione 265×180×180 3.439
9 Metis 235×195×140 2.387

Answer 2

It wouldn't wipe us out, it's far too small. An impact of that magnitde would be devistating localy and have strong reigonal effects. Earthquakes, Eruptions, Tidal Waves, etc. depending on where it impacts.

There are actually a lot of maybe's in the story that either you didn't hear or the History Channel failed to report.

It's pass in 2027 will be very close, by astronomical standards. When passing Earth it may run into a 'gravitational keyhole', which might alter it's trajectory by a fraction, which may make it's next approch closer and maybe even hit.

There's a lot of variables and unlikely possibilitys. If it does pass through a gravitational disturbance, it's just as possible for it to be sent in another direction further away.

And.. honestly, seven atomic bombs won't have much more effect than one. The Blast raidus and shockwave and everything will be more substantial, but either way it's enough to wipe out a city. Not enough to wipe out humanity, though.

Mt Saint Helens, during it's last big eruption, released the energy of one atomic bomb.. every second for nine hours.

Answer 3

You must be referring to asteroid 99942 Apophis, but your facts are a little mixed up. First, according to the latest observations, it is not going to hit after all. Second, it is not huge, or even medium size. It is much less than one mile wide, probably about 1/5 of a mile. Big enough to make a crater and cause a lot of localized damage in the area it hit, but no real danger to the world as a whole. Anyway, it isn't going to hit.

By the way, it seems unlikely that you would be 34 in the year 2039. Since 2039 is 33 years from now, you would have to be 1 now.

Also, 7 atomic bombs going off all at once would be a big explosion, but no danger to people a few dozen miles away.

Answer 4

It has been calculated that an astroid will be on a close course
as with all things scientists are thinking well in advance.
Nuclear tipped rockets are not the answer far easier and safer to dock with it and give it a nudge.Science now has the technology to be able to do that.A small nuclear device could be planted on the object itself.You should be more worried about what is happening
inside the heads of our political and religious leaders

Answer 5

I saw a similar thing on the Nova website. I believe they said the asteroid will pass close by the Earth in 2027, and then return again in 2039. IF at some specific point along the way, the asteroid passes through some very small "sweet spot", it will crash into the Pacific ocean. If it doesn't pass through this sweet spot, then we're in the clear. So far as I know, scientists tracking the asteroid do not know at this point whether it will pass through that spot or not.

Answer 6

First of all, an asteroid the size of the united states would cause an event way more substantial than just 7 nuclear bombs. In fact it would be approximately 1million times greater than the largest nuclear device ever tested which was just under 60 megatons. (Czar Bomba) d Most conventional nuclear weapons are only 10-20 megatons. The bomb dropped in Hiroshima was 20 megatons.

Secondly, don't listen to the mindless crap you hear on TV. Especially from the "History" channel. It's all a load of crap. Don't worry about asteroids, just worry about things that matter like finding happiness and peace in your life. That's all you need.

Ciao!,
-Cd

Answer 7

It certainly COULD wipe us out, but I haven't heard of this particular meteor/asteriod. We're constantly searching the sky for potential problems, so we'll hopefully know ahead of time - enough time for us to find some way to nudge it off course. It wouldn't take much to make it miss the Earth. And unless you're one year old right now, I seriously doubt you'll be 34 in 33 years.

Answer 8

Don't fear astroids. At present, we simply don't have the ability to calculate the exact movement of such an object. For more info, NASA keeps track of these things at: http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/ The odds are very low and NASA claims that it is difficult to calculate.

There are a lot of other things that we should concern ourselves with!

Answer 9

It doesnt matter if you believe it or not. If it happens - it happens
and there is nothing you can do about it. Two atomic bombs
were dropped on Japan and only killed a couple hundred thousand people. If it lands in N.Korea, it might be a blessing.
For us , at least.

Answer 10

You'll be 34 years old in 33 years?
So, you are posting on Yahoo Answers at 1 year old?
Wow.