Big asteroid has close encounter with Earth

[Xracer]

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CAPE CANAVERAL: A black asteroid as big as an aircraft carrier zoomed past Earth on Tuesday, delighting astronomers who trained telescopes on the ancient body in hopes of learning more about its composition and origin.

With a diameter estimated at 400 meters, or about a quarter of a mile, Asteroid 2005 YU 55 is the biggest asteroid to make a close pass by Earth since 1976

 

[Chogy]

If this thing had hit, it would have made the Tsar Bomba look like a firecraker. A four mile wide crater that would be 1,700 feet deep. If it had hit in the ocean, Tsunamis would wipe out coastal cities.

It's not a matter of IF, but WHEN something like this smacks the earth. At the beginning of the solar system, these things were pounding the Earth at a rate of probably several per day.

 

[SuperDoper]

Don't sweat it. Life is about taking chances. Yo know what I am saying?

 

[hunter_hunted]

If this thing had hit, it would have made the Tsar Bomba look like a firecraker. A four mile wide crater that would be 1,700 feet deep. If it had hit in the ocean, Tsunamis would wipe out coastal cities.

It's not a matter of IF, but WHEN something like this smacks the earth. At the beginning of the solar system, these things were pounding the Earth at a rate of probably several per day.

It will hit in next 100 years, it has an an elliptical orbit so its gonna crash land on earth

 

[Kadamba]

If this thing had hit, it would have made the Tsar Bomba look like a firecraker. A four mile wide crater that would be 1,700 feet deep. If it had hit in the ocean, Tsunamis would wipe out coastal cities.

It's not a matter of IF, but WHEN something like this smacks the earth. At the beginning of the solar system, these things were pounding the Earth at a rate of probably several per day.

Thanks Sir; Even Though this asteroid "2005 YU 55" was big enough; it was not predicted to cause any danger to earth. However I would like to know your opinion about asteroid "Apophis" (270 meters:smaller compared to "2005 yu 55") which will pass the earth Earth closely in late 2012 and early 2013, and later on cause serious concerns in 2029 and 2036 ? In case its found that, it will collide with earth, will it be possible to divert its path/destroy using current technologies like nukes ?

Doomsday Determined? Asteroid Apophis Could Strike Earth In 2036 | Fox News

 

[Tshering22]

In case its found that, it will collide with earth, will it be possible to divert its path/destroy using current technologies like nukes ?

If this is what we are expecting then I think the world's most destructive weapons will be the only hope to save humanity. Which means to stop a thing coming that big and at that speed we might need to use more than one country's nukes. Guess all the nuclear powers will have to sit together and plan this out, including the necessary amount of nuclear firepower required.

 

[SuperDoper]

If this is what we are expecting then I think the world's most destructive weapons will be the only hope to save humanity. Which means to stop a thing coming that big and at that speed we might need to use more than one country's nukes. Guess all the nuclear powers will have to sit together and plan this out, including the necessary amount of nuclear firepower required.

Save humanity is nobody's job.

 

[Tshering22]

Save humanity is nobody's job.

Bickering and fighting amongst ourselves is one thing; but to see the whole planet going like a fizzling matchstick? I don't think so. That would be the only point in human history where entire earth would stand to think of only one thing; destroying that asteroid to pieces small enough for our atmosphere to burn it with friction.

 

[Gold1010]

Save humanity is nobody's job.

........

If this is what we are expecting then I think the world's most destructive weapons will be the only hope to save humanity. Which means to stop a thing coming that big and at that speed we might need to use more than one country's nukes. Guess all the nuclear powers will have to sit together and plan this out, including the necessary amount of nuclear firepower required.

Weapons of any sort would make the problem worse instead of 1 asteroid you would have many.

I remember watching a program where NASA or someone said they could nudge a asteroid off course using some giant push thing.

Plus theres the problem of a destroyed asteroid reforming and the nuclear fallout.

 

[SuperDoper]

Bickering and fighting amongst ourselves is one thing; but to see the whole planet going like a fizzling matchstick? I don't think so. That would be the only point in human history where entire earth would stand to think of only one thing; destroying that asteroid to pieces small enough for our atmosphere to burn it with friction.

Nobody wish a piece of rock will hit earth. But,
Thinking and believing oneself is too important is a sin, across the religious spectrum, including those atheists.
There are many things beyond human capability. Both religious and atheists agree.
Where there is a start, there is a finish, for humans, their options so far is to enjoy the ride.
You know what I am saying?

 

[marcos98]

Just put a kamikaze satellite in the asteroid's path.
JOB DONE.

 

[Gold1010]

Nobody wish a piece of rock will hit earth. But,
Thinking and believing oneself is too important is a sin, across the religious spectrum, including those atheists.
There are many things beyond human capability. Both religious and atheists agree.
Where there is a start, there is a finish, for humans, their options so far is to enjoy the ride.
You know what I am saying?

Sorry but not everyone shares your beliefs and you should respect that.

 

[Kadamba]

........



Weapons of any sort would make the problem worse instead of 1 asteroid you would have many.

I remember watching a program where NASA or someone said they could nudge a asteroid off course using some giant push thing.

Plus theres the problem of a destroyed asteroid reforming and the nuclear fallout.

Yes Sir, even I heard the same thing. But there is no such deflection method which can assure, success. One such method proposed, involves launching a spacecraft capable of moving the asteroid from its path. However there is no unanimous opinion in scientific community. Some say it may even make the matter worse. More over if the plan fails and there is no back up it might be too late in case of huge asteroids. Thats why, Nuking is the best available option currently ?

Russia May Attack Asteroid That's Virtually No Threat | Space.com

 

[Tshering22]

........



Weapons of any sort would make the problem worse instead of 1 asteroid you would have many.

I remember watching a program where NASA or someone said they could nudge a asteroid off course using some giant push thing.

Plus theres the problem of a destroyed asteroid reforming and the nuclear fallout.

Which is why we need something capable or traveling as far away and as farther out as beyond the Moon to be able to strike this thing long before. The piece of asteroid isn't so big; if we can fragment it (nuclear blast will be damn powerful), the rest of burning and hence vaporizing of the asteroid particles would be done by Earth's atmosphere. Believe me, earth's atmosphere has amazing power to vaporize many asteroids themselves.

This is possible. We need to start thinking on making something beyond an ICBM. Something that has the ability to travel farther than the Moon and interdict and destroy this thing to tiny pieces so that they burn up. That's the only thing we humans can do from our end.

Nuclear weapons are the most destructive weapons we have in our hands. There's only one thing stronger than that known to man: Anti-matter. But the cost of getting it for a sixteenth of a milligram would be around $ 20 billion with the current technology.

So guess we are stuck with nuclear weapons till we could find a more reasonable tech to acquire anti-matter.

According to scientists, anti-matter hypothetically when weaponized would make Tzar Bomba look like a country-side firecracker.

 

[SuperDoper]

Which is why we need something capable or traveling as far away and as farther out as beyond the Moon to be able to strike this thing long before. The piece of asteroid isn't so big; if we can fragment it (nuclear blast will be damn powerful), the rest of burning and hence vaporizing of the asteroid particles would be done by Earth's atmosphere. Believe me, earth's atmosphere has amazing power to vaporize many asteroids themselves.

This is possible. We need to start thinking on making something beyond an ICBM. Something that has the ability to travel farther than the Moon and interdict and destroy this thing to tiny pieces so that they burn up. That's the only thing we humans can do from our end.

Nuclear weapons are the most destructive weapons we have in our hands. There's only one thing stronger than that known to man: Anti-matter. But the cost of getting it for a sixteenth of a milligram would be around $ 20 billion with the current technology.

So guess we are stuck with nuclear weapons till we could find a more reasonable tech to acquire anti-matter.

According to scientists, anti-matter hypothetically when weaponized would make Tzar Bomba look like a country-side firecracker.

While you are sweating on it, the world elites will try to find a place to hind and survive it. You know what I am saying? good luck, man.