Would NASA send something to block it? If not how would affect the US? or the World. Do you think it is as powerful as a atomic bomb?
2006-12-27 12:21:02 · 7 answers · asked by Husain B. 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
There's always lots of meteors heading for Earth. Fortunately most of them are small enough that they don't do any harm.
Of course there can be some big ones which in the past have wiped out most life on Earth but the planet itself eventually recovers and life evolves to fill in the gaps. And this of course could happen again at ANY time.
A few decades ago the notion of a catastrophic collision prompted the creation of LINEAR and NEAT which are telescopes designed specifically to identify new comets and other such objects that could bump into us. Every year they keep identifying dozens of new ones although space is so big the chances of a hit are very small. However... earlier this year (think it was in June) a very large meteor just missed us, passing closer than the moon and we only saw it about a week in advance.
As for NASA... they are currently powerless to do anything against a planetary-event sized object. Forget what you've seen in the movies- with our current levels of technology we need a good ten years advance warning to be able to do anything.
2006-12-27 14:59:34 · answer #1 · answered by cosmick 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It all depends. Of course, it would be incredibly simple to detonate some nuclear warheads and knock any meteor off course but most of the time there is no need. Meteors enter earth's atmosphere all the time but barring some massive rock, they all burn up in the atmosphere.
However, if a big enough meteor did get through and it was still big enough after going through the atmosphere, it could cause some potentially devestating effects. If a meteor the size of a golf ball hits the earth it can leave a crater 30 feet across.
Depending on where it landed, it could cause much more damage than an atomic bomb or it could simply do nothing.
2006-12-27 12:30:25 · answer #2 · answered by Simon 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
it wouldn't be the first time.
the outcome of such an event depends of a few factors:
* size of the meteor
* velocity
* angle
the results may be:
best case:
* it just disappears in a flash of light in the atmosphere
worst case:
* Destroys earth as we know it today
As you can see in the worst case scenario, a meteor can indeed bear more destructive power than an atomic bomb.
Would NASA send something to block it? Well, i' m not aware of any precautions thus far. But eventually they might come up with something if they see this coming.
How would it affect the US? Well, that really is a stupid question.
Or the World? see above
2006-12-27 12:29:37 · answer #3 · answered by Dr. Zaius 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A big enough meteor has the potential to be more powerful than all of the atomic weapons on the planet detonated at once in the same place. NASA is actually being lobbied to come up with plans to help us avoid catastrophic destruction by meteors. A few years ago, they were mandated by congress to catalog all of the 1km or larger near-earth asteroids, and I'm not sure but I think their mandate was extended to track smaller asteroids as well. There are at least a few scientists on the planet who are researching methods to allow us to avoid asteroids, such as (search them) gravity tractors, solar sails, nuclear explosions, etc. If we are given several years or decades warning, we should be able to make an asteroid miss us, depending on how large it is. But if a comet were heading for earth, we would be screwed as it is beyond our current or near-future technology to do anything about one of those. The orbit of comets is somewhat unpredictable.
Check out these links.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99942_Apophis
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/10/03/asteroid.shtml
2006-12-27 12:29:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Depending on the size, probably more powerful that an atomic bomb. It would also depend on where it landed, and yeah, I'd HOPE that NASA would send something to block or deflect it to the best of their abilities.
2006-12-27 12:23:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
there is not any evidance that factors to an section merchandise fantastic earth in 30 years. that is a rumor. the basically time you need to say some thing will that is at the same time as NASA releases an statement.
2016-12-01 05:59:09 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say " Here comes a meteor!!!!"
2006-12-27 12:25:02 · answer #7 · answered by drmushroom 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋