How much notice will we get if an asteroid was on a collision course with Earth?

Question

An asteroid is supposed to crash into Mars some time next month. I heard about this only two days ago. Did our astronomers just find out about this asteroid?

Answer 1

The Near Earth Object Program is a program run by NASA with the goal of discovering all objects larger than a kilometer in diameter that will pass near enough the Earth that we need to worry about them.

So far, over 5000 objects (asteroids, comets, etc.) have been discovered and 900 of them have been classified as potentially hazardous.

Currently the biggest newsmaker is Apophis, which will approach very close to Earth in 2029 and 2036, though current calculations show that it will miss us.

Answer 2

Well, as far as theis particular asteroid is concerned, they foundit a few months ago. The current announce emnt is simply a revision of the odds that it will actuallly hit Mars.

And its not "supposed to hit." It s possible--but the odds are 75 to 1 it won't, but jsut be a very near miss.

As for how much warning we would get on Earth--that depends. For a small asteroid like htis one, perhaps onnly a few monts (as in this case). However, the bigger the asteroid is the easier it is to spot--so we'dsee it sooner and have more warning.

Which--right now--would do us absolutely no good. We have the technology to divert any such asteroids. But none of that technology has been implemented. NNASA is having trouple even getting the money to replace the space shuttle. And thanks to the budget cutting of the GOP over the last 12 years, they've had to push the completion date for that back to 2015--years after the Shuttle is due to retire.

Let's hope that the Democrats (and, to be fair, a few decent Republicans) are successful in restoring some of the fnds NASA needs--they are trying to do that. Until we at least get that, NASA can't really even start on developing the kind of spacecraft that can deal with an asteroid.

Thisis NOT jsut academic. we've seen (1994) the impact of acoment hitting Jupiter. Now, a realistic chance of an asteroid hitting Mars. And--in 2036 a much larger asteroid is due to come close enough to Earth it could hit (though the odds are against it). My point--this is a real danger. But its the one natural disaster that's completely preventable--IF we have the resources to to the job when the time comes.

Answer 3

Yes, astronomers found out about this asteroid fairly recently. However, the object that may hit Mars is so small that it was not detected until a few weeks ago. Any asteroid of substantial size that would be heading toward Earth would be easily spotted, and the public would be warned. NASA would also try to deflect the asteroid, though this would be VERY difficult.

Answer 4

NASA is currently in the process of finding and tracking all asteroids that are large enough to not burn up in Earth's atmosphere and create an impact. However, they cannot say with 100% certainty that certain asteroids may possibly hit Earth in the future...it all depends on if it is affected by the gravity of nearby planets, moons, etc. Predicting asteroids is like predicting the weather...you can have all of these past observations and the best minds and technology tracking it, but you won't know until right before it happens. So NASA can give fairly good predictions in advance, but they won't know for certainty until probably a few months beforehand.

Answer 5

Astronomers are constantly scanning the sky for potentially hazardous asteroids, they forecast their paths and found one whose path comes very close to Mars orbit in January 30, 2008. Is not what we would like, because if it was the Earth instead of Mars, we would have on a few time to act. However, asteroids appear all of a sudden and astronomers can´t do nothing about it.

Answer 6

I react pretty well. WHEW, that takes a lot of the guesswork out of life. I would simply quit my job and go around helping people in exchange for food, shelter, etc. I would renew my dedication to embody Christ's teachings. In a year's time I would like to accomplish (depending on how big the asteroid is above and beyond big enough to destroy intelligent life) the organization of an ATTEMPT to divert the course of the asteroid. I think any uniting that occured would be after the fact. There would likely be some survivors, especially in areas far from the impact site - and in countries which stockpiled supplies beforehand, had underground or space-based shelters and put all their resources into survival rather than preparing for the end. I think things would go on much the same for a long time... you forget how many people don't think scientists have a clue about reality and how powerful denial can be. In my country (USA) it's possible that martial law would be declared, and many people would react to anarchy by throwing themselves into patriotic attempts to enforce the law. I'd have to spend more time overseas than I have (only spent considerable time in two European countries) to determine the reaction overseas. On the last day, I'd probably ask my family to come here (depending on where the impact site would be) so I could get together with people at my church as well as them. If I met someone in the interim who I fell in love with, I would want to spend my last moments with them as well, and perhaps with my family depending on how they all felt about it.

Answer 7

Asteroids tend to be in orbits that are fairly predictable. We at least would have a chance of detecting them early. Comets are a completely different problem. Many have hyperbolic trajectories and we would have little warning. As with asteroids, they can do much damage but our warning time would be very limited.

Answer 8

Asteroid is a workable problem ,but a comet may be traveling much faster . Their orbits are so elliptical that as they approach the earth they could be traveling 200,000 mph. That could hurt.

Answer 9

Depends on if they find it in time.
One could hit us now unexpectingly and we would be doomed. But, they do a pretty good job, they've found about 90% of the ones we have to worry about.

That mars asteriod is gonna be great; they say a 1-75 chance. Hopefully that one chance is gonna be the one, and I get to watch a spectacular sight through my telescope. (Time and Weather permitting)

Answer 10

First... This asteroid only has a 1 in 75 chance of hitting Mars.

Second... If something were on its way to annihilate us, I wouldn't want to know until 24 or so hours before- hand...

What a party!!!

What a night of absolute debauchery!!!

Fun! Fun! FUN!...
Dead...
I couldn't think of a better way to go!
Cheers!
Bobby