Would the scientists tell us if there was a huge asteroid plowing toward Earth?

Question

Hypothecially, if an asteroid was hurtling toward Earth with no realistic way of stopping it (Hollywood movies aside) do you think the government or scientists would really tell us? I don't think they would ~ it would cause panic and kill more people than the asteroid itself. Maybe we'd see scientists all over the world starting to hord supplies? what do you think.

http://www.livescience.com/technology/destroy_earth_mp.html

Jason T ~ in referring to "the government" I am encompassing non-gov't entities like NASA, CalTech, JPL and foreign equivalents.

nrao_kid ~ who are you calling "toots"? What do you think? Why are you answering this question if you feel it is unworthy of your time? What do you think? I have plenty of mental maturity. I thought the Top 10 Ways to Destroy Earth story I provided a link to was funny and interesting. What did you think of the article?

I agree that others would see the asteroid, but as for calculating a collison course I don't know how sophisticated that would be. I don't think it's easy to know how fast or on what course an asteroid would be travelling.

My question refers to IF it was known, would the government risk telling us to save as many people and cultures as possible or would they think the ensuing panic would cause mass suicides and homicides globally?

I agree with the first responder. I don't think we would be told.

Answer 1

Hypothetically, how would they keep it quiet? Astronomy is not a government-controlled profession exclusive to bearded men in white coats sat in huge observatories. It is, in fact, just about the only science in the world where amateur contributions are as welcome and appreciated as professional ones. People with large amounts of money can buy or make huge telescopes themselves, and even a modest telescope can be used to spot an asteroid millions of miles away. And what stops anyone who sees it going to the press? We have already had newspaper scare stories of asteroids on collision course with Earth. No blackout of information occurred there.

'The government' cannot hide an asteroid. It's there, in the sky, and anyone who cares to look up with the right equipment can see it. 'The government', in fact, is a meaningless concept, since the world is made up of many different governments. With millions of astronomers and hundreds of governments, how would a total blackout of information ever be maintained? If an asteroid or comet was heading for Earth, we'd know about it before it got here.

Answer 2

Lose the cynicism, toots. Sounds plenty "Hollywood" to me. "What do you think?"

And bring me a question which is worthy of learning something. Opinion-poll questions like this are worthless. "What do you think?"

You haven't the mental maturity to face and overcome a crisis like the one you describe, so I guess if I were in that science position thingy, I wouldn't tell you either. "What do you think?"

Many of the asteroids, real asteroids are planet-killers, or global devastators, so I am confident that many more would perish from the cataclysm than would perish from the panic.

Answer 3

Most of the rich and powerful people have underground shelters to go to. Many have arrangements to go into a friend's shelter. These places are suitable for living out the rest of their lives underground with food, energy and renewable resources such as grow lights. I know of a couple-they are like underground cities but few people are aware of them.

Answer 4

There are alot of amateur astronomers out there scanning the skies all over the globe...

If it was too big and on a collision course i dont see why governments would leak the information...

I could see amateur astronmers blowing the whistle with panic... Im sure it would ensue much pain and agony for people...

I would hope that the governments and scientist would keep it too themselves...

Our planet is paradise

we could allways use one more day

Answer 5

Doesn't matter. News like that would be too hard to keep secret. It would get out regardless of whether the government wants to keep it secret or not.

Answer 6

They wouldn't tell us...They have knowledge right now they should tell us.

Answer 7

if they wre filipinos probably they'll tell.

Answer 8

i dont think they would tell us

Answer 9

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