I'm talking about Apophis, April 13, 2013, 10 pm London time, they assured us it will miss and it's not until 2029, or 2036, or maybe 2070 something we "might" have to worry, (but now articles no longer mention the 2013 date at all). Wouldn't it be prudent to have the means ready to launch and intercept it just in case somehow (gravity well or something) they miscalculated?
2007-03-01 14:52:30 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I know the last time asteroid which could have devestated an area the size of a small state entered the atmosphere, it's angle and composition were such that no harm occurred only spectacular lights on the East Coast, conveneintly, though "unpredicted", no bigshots were in Washington DC right then.
Yes there are scientists urging for tractor devices, not pulverizing it, and talk of planting a telemetry device on Apophis on the next pass just so they can learn it's orbit through our galaxy. You have to admit though there is much about gravity and "darlk matter" we havn't figured out, and quantum physics people coming up with spooky multi-dimensional theories to explain it. WHAT IF this one or some other from a blind spot (like southern hemisphere) arrives before congress or multi-national leaders can agree on who does what to put something up in time. I mean have a device built, tested (as best can be) and ready to go into orbit BY 2013.
2007-03-01 16:49:33 · update #1
I have read the other answers to your question, and I can't believe the cynicysm out there, nor the willfull ignorance. rest assure; the majority of people out there are not going to make it because they are that way. To a lot of people things don't become real until those things are staring diectly in the face. The problem is; At that point, it's too late to become a believer, nor do anything about the problem. If all people thought like the majority of your respondants, we would all still be in the stoneage. Don't dispair on that account. Some of us are doers. The rest talk talk. Some people are only good at running their mouths. We have to figure out how to intervene.
That's inevitable. Why not sooner, rather than later. People who don't try, never really do anything.People why try, make all the difference. The world has fighters, and those who depend on others people fights.
2007-03-08 17:20:07 · answer #1 · answered by irene k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be cheaper just to let it hit and clean up the damage. Or we could just hope it misses, the chances of being hit at 1 in 45000 - I like those odds.
Let me put it this way - if we do nothing, tere is little chance of damage. If they deflect it, will that increase or decrease the chances of it hitting us?
If they try to deflect it, and it hits us instead of missing us, who is going to foot the bill?
Although it is big, it is not that big. I think it is about 300 metres across (1000 feet). If it hits a city it will cause massive damage, but not more than say, a large earthquake or tsunami. If it hits a largely unpopulated area, such as in an Australian desert, Siberia, Sahara, Saudi etc, it would create a great crater, and could trigger earthquakes, but the Earth and inhabitants would largely go about their business as usual.
2007-03-01 23:28:05 · answer #2 · answered by Terracinese 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like "Deep Impact" or "Armageddon"? Unfortunately, whatever Hollywood would have us believe, it wouldn't be a good idea to try and blow up an asteroid that was coming at us. Like they said in "ID4", "at the risk of turning one dangerous falling object into many".
Most asteroids and meteors out there that could "possibly" hit us would have to get by Jupiter and Saturn, not to mention the asteroid belt, first. Don't worry too much, we may not have to worry about asteroids or meteors because we'll probably blow up the planet on our own with nuclear missiles or something like that.
As for deflecting or diverting it, it's theoretically possible, but I haven't heard or even read of something that could do it. If you do though, let us know.
2007-03-01 23:24:57 · answer #3 · answered by Lizzie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybee i could bring it to my house and i could use it for landscapeing im gonna worry about it all night and day and not git any sleep worrying it could hit me maybe the great lakes are were a big asteroid hit and since its a low spot the water gathered there or maybee there just were the big volcanoes used to be since i see evidence of bolcanic activity but i dont see the volcanoes
2007-03-05 19:28:53 · answer #4 · answered by peter w 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
All signs point to yes!
2007-03-04 15:36:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
DON'T YOU THINK THAT SEVERAL PROJECTS ARE UNDERWAY (THINK TANKS) NOW?
ON THIS AND OTHER ROGUE TARGETS..
2007-03-01 23:33:13 · answer #6 · answered by cork 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋