On March 22, 1989, the earth almost had a mass extinction event:
581 Asclepius is a small asteroid of the Apollo group that [...] passed by Earth on March 22, 1989 at a distance of 680,000 km (0.68 Gm). Although this exceeds the moon’s orbital radius, the close pass received attention at that time, especially since the asteroid passed through the exact position of Earth only six hours earlier. “On the cosmic scale of things, that was a close call,” said Dr. Henry Holt. Geophysicists estimate that collision with Asclepius would release energy comparable to the explosion of a 600 megaton atomic bomb.
Subsequent discoveries revealed that a whole class of such objects exists, and that an object the size of the one that just missed Earth in March 1989, probably comes by undetected once every two or three years. Asclepius will continue to approach Earth within 30 Gm a dozen times each century. The next pass to come within 1 Gm will not take place until 2189.
The collision would have had the power of ~50,000 Hiroshima bombs. Can we start work on some kind of asteroid defense system, please?
i thought our asteroid defense system was to send Bruce Willis up there in a spaceship and drill for oil?
We have the near earth survey, but in typical human fashion, we really aren’t investing in the technology that will actually let us DO anything about these. Once an asteroid ACTUALLY hits, THEN people will take it seriously. Just look at some of the anti-science fuckwitts we have here in the US who complain about “something called volcano monitoring” or things like that…
Now, that’s an ironically named asteroid.
“Sword of Damocles” was too long.
Thanks for mentioning the irony. Im a cosmology buff, so I’d heard of Asclepius before. I just never bothered to look up the reference.
God of healing and medicine. rofl.
“Can we start work on some kind of asteroid defense system, please?”
Nah. Jesus will be back soon.
I believe we have a near earth object monitoring system, especially in anticipation of an asteroid about the size of a house that is supposed to pass between the earth and the moon around 2029 (?). I can’t remember my sources for this, I think it was an article somewhere online. They haven’t quite figured out what to do about it though. The thing is, if it misses earth in 2029, it’s trajectory is supposed to bring it back around and it can hit the earth in 2036. They are still monitoring this specific asteroid to figure out it’s exact path. They’re thinking of developing rocket booster-type things that can be launched up at the asteroid. These are supposed to go on once they’re on the asteroid and divert it by changing its course… how much of this supposedly planned technology anyone has actually begun working on is a mystery.
Google 99942 Apophis.
Interestingly, is that “IF” it impacts it will be over Siberia or the Ocean not any dense populated area’s. But it could cause tidal waves.
An asteroid, land on Siberia? Oh I hope not, I am rather fond of her.
Chuckles…:)
Lol <3
John C made a funny! :)
If it crash-land in Siberia, then it could be proof of something higher. 2 times in a little bit more than 100 years in Siberia cannot be coincidences. lol
Don’t worry, I’ve a tennis racquet at the ready :p
I can’t wait until 2029, that is going to be sweet. (I’m an astro-nerd)
I found out about it recently from a video of Neil deGrasse Tyson talking about it. I think I even posted it on FB….let me check…
Here it is. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaW4Ol3_M1o
Neil talking about the deflection ideas that people are already working on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-ReuLZ2quc
If such a rock hit God’s beautiful creation and wiped out millions of us ‘ants’ it wouldn’t be fair. Then again if it rained for 40 days and nights and the earth was flooded, not much different. If a tidal wave wipes out 250,000 ants – hmm not fair huh. Maybe they deserved it..even the unborn. The universe isn’t fair – fairness is a human construct just as a ‘point’ to everything. There has to be a point – there just has to! The universe cares not for our little ant brains and our little ant ‘points’. It is pathetic how arrogant we are – making up gods in our own image – how silly.