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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.

Sergeant Gleed
05-02-2019, 12:00 PM
The question is always "how far away/how much time do we have to respond? How big is it? "

The answers to those define our capabilities. The premise of the movie Armageddon, with it Texas - sized impactor, was absurd. We could do nothing even if we had years, and if we had years the only thing we could do would be to turn the moon into an Ark. A few hundred people would survive, there, praying the big pieces of debris missed them. There would be no biosphere to return to thst could be repopulated. Suddenly Mars would be a sensible place to move to.

Smaller, with time, we could deflect the object. The further away, the less delta-V would be required and the easier the task becomes.

nathanbforrest45
05-02-2019, 12:07 PM
If it were far enough away we could send people to colonize it. We would have to be careful and not send so many it tipped over and everyone fell off.

jigglepete
05-02-2019, 04:10 PM
Bend over, put your head between your legs, and kiss your ass goodbye :)

gamewell45
05-02-2019, 04:36 PM
Depending on the size, things could get ugly once it hits. I've read that an asteroid the size of a football field could do irreparable damage to the planet and could possibly plunge us into an ice age. I would assume one the size of Texas or Alaska would be terminal for all mankind.

Peter1469
05-02-2019, 05:06 PM
Depending on the size, things could get ugly once it hits. I've read that an asteroid the size of a football field could do irreparable damage to the planet and could possibly plunge us into an ice age. I would assume one the size of Texas or Alaska would be terminal for all mankind.
It would be an extinction event. Maybe cockroaches would survive....

gamewell45
05-02-2019, 05:29 PM
It would be an extinction event. Maybe $#@!roaches would survive....

Wow, think about total extinction; no more bills to pay. :)

Peter1469
05-02-2019, 06:25 PM
Wow, think about total extinction; no more bills to pay. :)
Maybe that is what goes through Congress's minds when they pass $1T busting deficits.

Sergeant Gleed
05-03-2019, 06:14 AM
If it were far enough away we could send people to colonize it. We would have to be careful and not send so many it tipped over and everyone fell off.


This thread is about a comet, not Guam.

Comets can't capsize.

Captdon
05-03-2019, 11:49 AM
Jack Daniels.

Trumpster
05-08-2019, 03:21 PM
What to do if an asteroid was about to hit earth

Get your money back if you paid in advance for cremation.

nathanbforrest45
05-08-2019, 03:58 PM
This thread is about a comet, not Guam.

Comets can't capsize.

Neither can Guam

MisterVeritis
05-08-2019, 04:00 PM
Wow, think about total extinction; no more bills to pay. :)
And no fishing limits.

nathanbforrest45
05-08-2019, 04:22 PM
And no fishing limits.

Or speed limits!!