The end is near! Star on collision course!

[Fritzo]

Here's a question, did they take a look at what may or may not intercept this star while it's on course to the solar system? 1.5 million light years is a lot of distance and time to account for.

You can see a car going in a straight line on an intercept course 10 blocks out to hit a pedestrian if it doesn't stop based on your calculations. But did you account for the red lights?

It's not 1.5 million light years (the entire galaxy is only 100K light years across), it will pass by in 1.5 million years. I think it's currently around 60 light years from here.

 

[darkxshade]

It's not 1.5 million light years (the entire galaxy is only 100K light years across), it will pass by in 1.5 million years. I think it's currently around 60 light years from here.

ok I misread it but the agument still stands, unless they can account for everything that'll pass through it's trajectory in those 60 light years during that 1.5million years, we don't know if it'll reach the solar system.

 

[JulesMaximus]

So what's the exact date of the ATOT end of the world meet?

I thought that was in May...

 

[ViviTheMage]

nuke it from .. .earth ???

 

[ElFenix]

so what's that do to the orbits of the planets? is it possible the dwarf would become a part of the solar system?

 

[threeringbinder]

We'll find the 5th element by then.

 

[Fritzo]

ok I misread it but the agument still stands, unless they can account for everything that'll pass through it's trajectory in those 60 light years during that 1.5million years, we don't know if it'll reach the solar system.

They actually can. That is why it's listed as having 85% probability. I looked it up and it's 63 light years from us. That's not very far in astronomical terms, so there are a limited number of objects with sufficient mass to influence the trajectory. There is a 15% chance that a nearby star or internal turbulence will give it enough of a tug to move it out of the way.

 

[Fritzo]

so what's that do to the orbits of the planets? is it possible the dwarf would become a part of the solar system?

No, it has way too much mass, it's going too fast, and it's not going to get close enough to the Sun's gravity well. What it WILL most likely do is give a little nudge to some of the objects in the Oort cloud (the source of comets). Even if they get nudged a few inches, it could could a death spiral over thousands of years toward the Sun. When the big objects head toward the Sun, they pass the orbit of Earth.

And if that happens while the planet is in the way...well...ask the dinosaurs about it.

 

[TechBoyJK]

pew pew pew pew pew down star! down!

 

[borisvodofsky]

What is an insurance duck going to do about end of the world? :hmm:

He's not gonna do quack about it.

 

[El Guaraguao]

So what's the exact date of the ATOT end of the world meet?

12/21/2012 @my crib

bring beer

one

 

[destrekor]

12/21/2012 @my crib

bring beer

one

Alright seriously can we finally nail down the date?
I have to keep changing my future order of Kool Aid.

I think we need reservations. I mean, I kept planning for a whole world party, and Kraft told me they would need a final order well in advance and a down payment of a serious magnitude.
I'm planning on scaling it back a bit, maybe just a whole ATOT party?
Actually P&N's on the guest list too, and in all honesty, they are first in line for the Kool-Aid. Don't tell them, but they're drinking it when they get there. Meanwhile, we'll all enjoy our kool-aid until the end of the night.

 

[destrekor]

Well, this is a little more reliable than weather forcasting because you have a large mass with no resistance that is following a course charted for 20 years.

This isn't as bad as it sounds, as the star will probably disturb small bodies in the outer solar system, and may send in a "comet shower". It could also rip away or alter the orbit of smaller bodies like Pluto or some of the other dwarf planets. I imagine if we're still around by then, we will have sufficient technology to divert any comets from hitting the planet.

You know that game Asteroids? It will be exactly like that.

pew pew pew
Defender 1: yeahhh!
pew pew :kerplow:
:kerplow: pew pew pe pshewww
Defender 1: WOAH that was close
pew pew
Defender 1: yeah we're rockin now
Defender 1 co-pilot: Don't look away you idiot!
pew pew pe
Defender 1: arrrgggh----------
NASA: Defender 1, this is NASA. Do you copy? Over.
Defender 1: -------
NASA: Well, Asteroid Defender 1 is down. We only have 2 more left, and about 1000 more blips that we can see. If y'all pilots can defend this time around, we might have enough time to make Defender 4. Don't make us use that ship, no clue if there's another wave out there!

 

[Eli]

ok I misread it but the agument still stands, unless they can account for everything that'll pass through it's trajectory in those 60 light years during that 1.5million years, we don't know if it'll reach the solar system.

This is true, and the answer is no. We haven't found even a small fraction of the things floating around out there.

This could be wrong. But it's certainly a lot more predictable than the weather on March 17th, 1502010.

 

[Fritzo]

pew pew pew
Defender 1: yeahhh!
pew pew :kerplow:
:kerplow: pew pew pe pshewww
Defender 1: WOAH that was close
pew pew
Defender 1: yeah we're rockin now
Defender 1 co-pilot: Don't look away you idiot!
pew pew pe
Defender 1: arrrgggh----------
NASA: Defender 1, this is NASA. Do you copy? Over.
Defender 1: -------
NASA: Well, Asteroid Defender 1 is down. We only have 2 more left, and about 1000 more blips that we can see. If y'all pilots can defend this time around, we might have enough time to make Defender 4. Don't make us use that ship, no clue if there's another wave out there!

And don't forget to use Hyperspace

 

[Bignate603]

I am buying an insurance rider to cover star damage.

Good idea, if you lock in the rate now you'll be able to save a bundle.

 

[JS80]

Quick someone find Milla Jovovich

 

[TheVrolok]

Neat. I really wish I had more time to read/learn astronomy/astrophysics.

 

[BoomerD]

In the grand scheme of things, 1.5 million years is a mere blip on the radar... But yeah.

But how can that be? The Earth is only about 6,000 years old!

[/fundie]

 

[Eli]

But how can that be? The Earth is only about 6,000 years old!

[/fundie]

4,000.

Heathen.

 

[Rubycon]

In 2001 Russia said the end was Mir...

 

[TheVrolok]

4,000.

Heathen.

Earth was created 6,000 years ago, the flood was 4,000 years ago.

 

[Kalmah]

Can planets be inhabitable around dwarf stars? Maybe Pandora is orbiting around it and we can jump ship when it gets close enough? Maybe that's our ride out of here while Earth is on its last limb?

Maybe we'll already dead? I imagine by then we are out of resources and living tribally or something.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Maybe it was 2012 + 1.5 million?

 

[EricMartello]

Pffft...I can out-DPS that star on my mage. L2play noobs