Asteroid Passing close to Earth

[Jimbeaux]

If reposted; sorry:


http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20110624/sc_space/as...

[nelly1]

Only a 5-30 meter rock, but coming within 7500 miles.

The Earth's diameter is 7926 miles, and the Asteroid will pass through the zone of geosynchronous satellites (approx. 22,000 miles).

What is worrying is it was only discovered on Wednesday!

Holly from Red Dwarf nearly said:

You see the thing about Asteroids is, they're black, and the thing about Space is, it's black...

[jmorgan]

Think there have been a very small number before. Thing is not to let it bother you. Sometimes they are not spotted until its upon us.

Not as if any have hit us before.
http://www.passc.net/EarthImpactDatabase/NorthAmer...

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/neo/

[Eric Mc]

Where's Bruce Willis when we need him.

[HOGEPH]

Anyone got a load of old 10 pence pieces?

[Bill]

jmorgan said:

Think there have been a very small number before. Thing is not to let it bother you. Sometimes they are not spotted until its upon us.

Not as if any have hit us before.
http://www.passc.net/EarthImpactDatabase/NorthAmer...

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/neo/

I was reading something the other day that reckoned the chances are the first we know of a big impact will be a big bright light in the sky, followed a second or two later by a loud bang and instantaneous death (Of course the shockwave will travel faster than sound so you won't get to hear the bang.) Unless of course you're around the other side of the planet where your death will be a great deal less pleasant.

Which is nice.

[Eric Mc]

Wouldn't the shock wave travel AT the speed of sound?

[hornetrider]

I only need an hour or two notice, you know, so I can head for higher ground on my bike

[Bill]

That would make sense, now you mention it., although it's not going to make much difference to the outcome.

[Eric Mc]

Bill said:

That would make sense, now you mention it., although it's not going to make much difference to the outcome.

Not really

The shock wave is the pressure wave from the explosion which obviously is the source of the audible bang when it passes by your ears (and kills you at the same time, of course).

[anonymous-user]

there are asteroid watching programmes in existence.. surely if it was an extinction sized event, we would spot it? (unless it was very very dark?)

[croyde]

Something that wipes us all out at the same time 'aint so bad.

Sorry, feeling a bit depressed as Bon Jovi are on for 3 hours tonight and I'm working on it.

[RemainAllHoof]

nelly1 said:

Only a 5-30 meter rock

Are you saying... a plucky astronaut could stand on it while it's passing by?

[MiniMan64]

Use Psychology said:

there are asteroid watching programmes in existence.. surely if it was an extinction sized event, we would spot it? (unless it was very very dark?)

You reckon?

It's a very VERY big sky.

[RemainAllHoof]

Can't they paint them fluorescent yellow?

[mickk]

RemainAllHoof said:

nelly1 said:

Only a 5-30 meter rock

Are you saying... a plucky astronaut could stand on it while it's passing by?

And maybe jump up and down a bit to change its course.

[croyde]

mickk said:

RemainAllHoof said:

nelly1 said:

Only a 5-30 meter rock

Are you saying... a plucky astronaut could stand on it while it's passing by?

And maybe jump up and down a bit to change its course.

Give it a boot.

[carmonk]

Eric Mc said:

Wouldn't the shock wave travel AT the speed of sound?

Faster initially, depending on the size and speed of the impact, and the distance from the impact. Very close to an object travelling at 20,000mph in the atmosphere the shockwave would be 20,000mph although that will rapidly reduce the further you move from it. At the point if impact it would be a slower shockwave but longer lasting. In fact, I think that a shockwave has to travel faster than sound otherwise it's just a sound wave.

[Mr Dave]

Hopefully it hits Belfast and does us all a favour. Would put them out of our misery.

Edited by Mr Dave on Saturday 25th June 11:16

[RemainAllHoof]

mickk said:

RemainAllHoof said:

nelly1 said:

Only a 5-30 meter rock

Are you saying... a plucky astronaut could stand on it while it's passing by?

And maybe jump up and down a bit to change its course.

I like your thinking, although I was merely thinking of the cool factor of surfing an asteroid and getting the video on YouTube rather than actually doing something useful!