Is it possible for a meteor to hit us unexpectedly?

Question

We argued about this last night.
Can scientists really predict such events? And what if it was going to happen?

Answer 1

Scientists have detected nearly 90% of NEO or Near Earth Asteroids that are of atleast a half mile wide. There are still some in existence that we haven't detected yet, obvously around 10%. There is a very real chance that an NEO could hit us unexpectedly.
Yes, of the objects we know of, we can calculate approximately when a NEO will pass. We also have simulations that tell us an abstract round about kind of way the collision the NEO may cause. We aren't 100% sure of the nature of the collision because we wouldn't be able to simulate the actual angle of the NEO. The angle has a great amount to do with the amount of destruction as well as what the NEO would be made of.

Check out some information on "Apophis". Good stuff.

- Jansen

Answer 2

I'm afraid that a good-sized object could impact Earth with absolutely no warning. Back in 2002, on June 14th, an object about 80 meters in diameter missed Earth by only 120,000 km. Had it hit us, some 2,000 square kilometers would have been devastated. That's about the same devastation caused by the Tunguska impact back in the early 1900's.

The scary part is that this object that went by on June 14th wasn't spotted until *3 days later* on June 17th.

Answer 3

I'm sure it would be possible, as the astronomers can't watch the whole sky all the time.
Depending on the size of the object when it hit, and also whether it hit land or water, the damage to the planet COULD be devastating.

Answer 4

Small ones do it all the time.

Answer 5

yep a girl in England found a hole thru her can one morning caused by a meteor, did not hear it

Answer 6

BANG !! What was that ? !! Oops, End of the world.