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'Record close' asteroid may miss the Earth but it could take out your phone

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/s...our-phone.html

Quote:

Scientists say they are sure there is no chance of the 150ft (45.7m) wide space rock hitting the planet.

But there is a remote possibility that it could collide with one of more than 100 telecommunication and weather satellites in fixed orbits above the Earth.

The asteroid, 2012 DA14, has been closely tracked since its discovery a year ago.
It is predicted to reach its nearest point to the Earth at around 7.30pm UK time on Friday.

Experts have calculated it will stay at least 17,200 miles (27,681km) away - easily far enough to be safe, but a very close shave in astronomical terms. Scientists have never observed such a narrow miss before.

Dr Dan Brown, from Nottingham Trent University, said telecommunication satellites - that ping data between our mobile phones - could be in danger.
Travelling at between 12,427mph (20,000kph) and 18,641mph (30,000kph) - around five miles (8km) a second, or eight times the speed of a rifle bullet - the asteroid will fly inside the orbits of high geostationary satellites some 22,000 miles (35,406km) above the Earth.

''These are the satellites that provide us with telecommunications and weather forecasts,'' said Dr Brown.

''There are loads of them but you're talking about a very big area. It would be very unlucky if a satellite was hit. The asteroid is more likely to hit some space junk, but most of this is only about a centimetre across and the impact won't even be noticed.''

Through binoculars, the object should be visible as a tiny dot of light crossing the sky.

''It will be too faint for the naked eye but with binoculars it should be visible if you know where to look. It will be low to the north-eastern horizon and moving quite quickly," said Dr Brown.

''You'll be able to see it pass from the constellation Leo to roughly the Plough, more or less from anywhere in the UK, and it will be bright for about an hour.''

I can see millions of kids crying in the streets if that happens

maybe we can send a drone to make contact after i wash the 'care' out of my shorts

What would have happened if it meteor that size did collide with Earth?

Game Over?

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Falcon (Post 19475312)

What would have happened if it meteor that size did collide with Earth?

Game Over?

Years ago, I had this book called Why Things Are. There was a chapter on asteroids I think it said something like that if an asteroid 100 meters wide struck the ocean, it would basically steam clean most of the planet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Falcon (Post 19475312)

What would have happened if it meteor that size did collide with Earth?

Game Over?

would explode in the sky flattening about 500 miles worth of land or anything in that vicinity.. wouldn't be pretty but unlikely to hit a populated area and wouldn't do much in the way of lasting damage if it hit, but would be significant.

we obviously should be putting more time into protecting ourselves from shit like this though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronco67 (Post 19475332)

not true.. takes a lot of energy to move water no less move an ocean full of it, not to mention across a continent. It would need to be a lot bigger in other words.

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Falcon (Post 19475312)

What would have happened if it meteor that size did collide with Earth?

Game Over?

This is why I have a four wheel drive truck, camping gear, food, and assault rifles.

this asteroid has been compared to the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_event

Quote:

Originally Posted by PR_Glen (Post 19475333)

we obviously should be putting more time into protecting ourselves from shit like this though.

Asteroid tax ?? :Oh crap

They are probably considering it now...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott McD (Post 19475430)

Asteroid tax ?? :Oh crap

They are probably considering it now...

Not in the US, we know better. God wont let no big ole rock hit us until after the tribulation

D'UH!!

for the satirically challenged I'M KIDDING!

The idea of asteroid soon to collide with planet earth is a consoling thought for me right now ...

[QUOTE=PR_Glen;19475338]not true.. takes a lot of energy to move water no less move an ocean full of it, not to mention across a continent. It would need to be a lot bigger in other words.[/QUOTE

The steam would come from the massive heat energy from the strike, not water displacement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott McD (Post 19475430)

Asteroid tax ?? :Oh crap

They are probably considering it now...

You're probably right.