Asteroid likely to hit Earth Feb. 1, 2019

[XMan]

BBC

An asteroid discovered just weeks ago has become the most threatening object yet detected in space.
A preliminary orbit suggests that 2002 NT7 is on an impact course with Earth and could strike the planet on 1 February, 2019 - although the uncertainties are large.

Astronomers have given the object a rating on the so-called Palermo technical scale of threat of 0.06, making NT7 the first object to be given a positive value.

From its brightness, astronomers estimate it is about two kilometres wide, large enough to cause continent-wide devastation on Earth.

By way of comparison, the asteroid which struck the Yucatan peninsula, causing the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, is believed to have been 20-40 kilometers wide.

 

[Random Variable]

The article doesn't exactly say that collision is "likely."

 

[ThePresence]

*Plays Armageddeon theme*

 

[Evadman]

Really super interesting. I figure that my net worth at that time will be a shoe lace and 2 rubber bands. I will die a horrable pauper's death.

<edit>
I have no clue why I did that. I think AT is rubbing off on me. Must be that other thread

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: Vespasian
The article doesn't exactly say that collision is "likely."

<sigh>

The title of the BBC article is "Space rock 'on collision course'" and you nitpick MY title?

Originally posted by: Evadman
Really super interesting. I figure that my net worth at that time will be a shoe lace and 2 rubber bands. I will die a horrable pauper's death.

I searched for "asteroid", "meteor", "collision", and "2019." So cut the repost Nazi crap.

 

[kami]

Cool!

 

[RossMAN]

I'll be 45 then, an old old man

 

[Orsorum]

Fun stuff. Maybe I'll get chosen as an astronaut, ride that sucka outta earth's path... then come back down and celebrate wit da ladies.

<--- final exam tomorrow, whaddya expect?

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Originally posted by: Zakath15
Fun stuff. Maybe I'll get chosen as an astronaut, ride that sucka outta earth's path... then come back down and celebrate wit da ladies.

<--- final exam tomorrow, whaddya expect?

That you'd bother studying?

Anyway, hope it hits, want to see how much damage it would cause.

 

[brtspears2]

eh, just a big game of marbles.

 

[kami]

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1

Originally posted by: Zakath15
Fun stuff. Maybe I'll get chosen as an astronaut, ride that sucka outta earth's path... then come back down and celebrate wit da ladies.

<--- final exam tomorrow, whaddya expect?

That you'd bother studying?

Anyway, hope it hits, want to see how much damage it would cause.

As bad as it sounds, I feel the same way. God I'm morbid sometimes

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1

Anyway, hope it hits, want to see how much damage it would cause.

Well sure! But only if it lands over there in wooden shoe land

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: AmusedOne

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1

Originally posted by: Zakath15
Fun stuff. Maybe I'll get chosen as an astronaut, ride that sucka outta earth's path... then come back down and celebrate wit da ladies.

<--- final exam tomorrow, whaddya expect?

That you'd bother studying?

Anyway, hope it hits, want to see how much damage it would cause.

Well sure! But only if it lands over there in wooden shoe land

NOOOOO!!!! NOT WOODEN SHOE LAND.... *crumbles up and dies*

 

[rgwalt]

Give it a few weeks or months and they'll firm up their estimates as to the probability that it will hit Earth. Hey, at least we'll know 17 years in advance. I'll be 40 by then.

Good Lord... I'll be 40 in 17 years.

Ryan

 

[JellyBaby]

Not much can be done even by 2019. I'll just have to plod along as I have been and try not to cower in fear everytime a shadow falls over me from above. It'll be tough but somehow I'll make it.

 

[rgwalt]

I figure with 17 years, we will come up with something to alter the course of the asteroid. The sooner the better.

Ryan

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: rgwalt
Give it a few weeks or months and they'll firm up their estimates as to the probability that it will hit Earth. Hey, at least we'll know 17 years in advance. I'll be 40 by then.

Good Lord... I'll be 40 in 17 years.

Ryan

Quit whining. I'll be 52. Good lawd indeed!

 

[TNTrulez]

Lets get a bet going on whether or not this will hit.

 

[SuperCyrix]

astronomers estimate it is about two kilometres wide

I don't think we'll have any problems nuking that thing to a billion pieces if it gets too close.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: TNTrulez
Lets get a bet going on whether or not this will hit.

We should start it out at like $10, then collect interest... should make for an interesting pot.

 

[kami]

Originally posted by: SuperCyrix

astronomers estimate it is about two kilometres wide

I don't think we'll have any problems nuking that thing to a billion pieces if it gets too close.

I dunno..you sure about that? Just think of the velocity the thing has...2km wide rock travelling at that incredible speed has a lot energy...a few puny nukes isn't gonna stop it from moving. You'd have to probably drill in like the movies

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: TNTrulez
Lets get a bet going on whether or not this will hit.

We should start it out at like $10, then collect interest... should make for an interesting pot.

Cool. It could end up like the Hellfish Bonanza

 

[JellyBaby]

don't think we'll have any problems nuking that thing to a billion pieces if it gets too close.

Given the globe's track record of getting rockets in orbit I'm a bit leary of putting nuclear payloads onboard, you know? Let's hope it doesn't come down to nuking ourselves or being obliterated by space debris.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: kami

Originally posted by: SuperCyrix

astronomers estimate it is about two kilometres wide

I don't think we'll have any problems nuking that thing to a billion pieces if it gets too close.

I dunno..you sure about that? Just think of the velocity the thing has...2km wide rock travelling at that incredible speed has a lot energy...a few puny nukes isn't gonna stop it from moving. You'd have to probably drill in like the movies

You don't have to stop it. Hit it far enough out and all you need to do is give it a tiny shove to change it's trajectory.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Originally posted by: AmusedOne

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1

Anyway, hope it hits, want to see how much damage it would cause.

Well sure! But only if it lands over there in wooden shoe land

Ok with me! Maybe we'd finally get some mountains here!