Peter1469
05-02-2019, 10:27 AM
Scientists ask: what to do if an asteroid was about to hit Earth? (https://news.yahoo.com/asteroid-hit-earth-scientists-ponder-021925824.html)
Likely nothing since we may not see it in time. But it is an interesting thought experiment.
Astronomers estimate a one percent risk the space rock will collide with our planet on April 27, 2027. What should we do?
It's this potentially catastrophic scenario that 300 astronomers, scientists, engineers and emergency experts are applying their collective minds to this week in a Washington suburb, the fourth such international effort since 2013.
"We have to make sure people understand this is not about Hollywood," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine as he opened the sixth International Planetary Defense Conference at the University of Maryland's campus in College Park.
Countries represented include China, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Russia and the United States.
The idea that the planet Earth may one day have to defend itself against an asteroid used to elicit what experts call a "giggle factor."
But a meteor that blew up in the atmosphere over Russia on February 15, 2013, helped put an end to the sneers.
Funny the writer missed the recent meteor that hit over the Bering Sea (https://www.livescience.com/65062-bering-sea-meteor-explosion-photos.html).
Read the rest of the article at the link.
Likely nothing since we may not see it in time. But it is an interesting thought experiment.
Astronomers estimate a one percent risk the space rock will collide with our planet on April 27, 2027. What should we do?
It's this potentially catastrophic scenario that 300 astronomers, scientists, engineers and emergency experts are applying their collective minds to this week in a Washington suburb, the fourth such international effort since 2013.
"We have to make sure people understand this is not about Hollywood," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine as he opened the sixth International Planetary Defense Conference at the University of Maryland's campus in College Park.
Countries represented include China, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Russia and the United States.
The idea that the planet Earth may one day have to defend itself against an asteroid used to elicit what experts call a "giggle factor."
But a meteor that blew up in the atmosphere over Russia on February 15, 2013, helped put an end to the sneers.
Funny the writer missed the recent meteor that hit over the Bering Sea (https://www.livescience.com/65062-bering-sea-meteor-explosion-photos.html).
Read the rest of the article at the link.