Sci/Tech Quarter-mile-wide asteroid coming close to Earth

[The Helper]

But scientists say not to worry. It won't hit.

"We're extremely confident, 100 percent confident, that this is not a threat," said the manager of NASA's Near Earth Object Program, Don Yeomans. "But it is an opportunity."

The asteroid named 2005 YU55 is being watched by ground antennas as it approaches from the direction of the sun. The last time it came within so-called shouting distance was 200 years ago.

Closest approach will occur at 6:28 p.m. EST Tuesday when the asteroid passes within 202,000 miles of Earth. That's closer than the roughly 240,000 miles between the Earth and the moon.

Quarter-mile-wide asteroid coming close to Earth

(AP) -- An asteroid bigger than an aircraft carrier will dart between the Earth and moon on Tuesday - the closest encounter by such a huge rock in 35 years.

phys.org

 

[eellem1]

I find this very interesting. Have been reading up on it, keeping track.

 

[Sajin]

Best start prepping some weapon to defend earth from these, this might be the best opportunity to test such a weapon, without it being a last hope scenario

 

[Vellu]

Best start prepping some weapon to defend earth from these, this might be the best opportunity to test such a weapon, without it being a last hope scenario

Good idea. Maybe if we get all nukes together they might crack an asteroid. Maybe. And then we'd get thousands of smaller asteroids raining down. Maybe.

 

[Narks]

Good idea. Maybe if we get all nukes together they might crack an asteroid. Maybe. And then we'd get thousands of smaller asteroids raining down. Maybe.

which would get burnt up into the atmosphere due to the greater surface area

maybe

 

[FireCat]

But scientists say not to worry. It won't hit.

Oh, what a relief!

 

[Sajin]

Good idea. Maybe if we get all nukes together they might crack an asteroid. Maybe. And then we'd get thousands of smaller asteroids raining down. Maybe.

I didn't say nukes

 

[xPass]

which would get burnt up into the atmosphere due to the greater surface area

maybe

Or maybe we can train some Zergs (or however you spell it).

 

[The Helper]

Spoiler

 

[pr0-assasin]

so we should be able to see it?

 

[Sajin]

so we should be able to see it?

Potentially

 

[Varine]

That line seems rather straight to me.

 

[pr0-assasin]

Would suck if it collided with the moon.

 

[FireCat]

Would suck if it collided with the moon.

Yeah. It wouldn't be fun
But what would happen if we had no moon anymore?

 

[camelCase]

Yeah. It wouldn't be fun
But what would happen if we had no moon anymore?

Bye bye, tides.

 

[Varine]

Bye bye, tides.

Bye bye stable axial tilt.

 

[xPass]

Bye bye stable axial tilt.

Bye bye centre of gravity.

 

[Varine]

Bye bye centre of gravity.

No, the center of gravity will be the same, we'll just wobble more.

 

[xPass]

No, the center of gravity will be the same, we'll just wobble more.

Meaning the center of gravity would change more often?

 

[Varine]

Meaning the center of gravity would change more often?

Why would the center of gravity change?