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Asteroid Flies by Earth Thursday — Parallax Forums

Asteroid Flies by Earth Thursday

Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
edited 2012-09-13 15:11 in General Discussion
http://news.yahoo.com/asteroid-flies-earth-thursday-watch-online-230857282.html


A newfound asteroid that may be the size of three football fields will whiz by Earth on Thursday (Sept. 13), and you can watch the close encounter live online.

Asteroid 2012 QG42 is between 625 feet to 1,400 feet wide (190 to 430 meters) and was first spotted by scientists last month. Researchers say the space rock has no chance of hitting Earth this week when it makes its closest approach on Thursday.

The asteroid will pass by at a safe distance of about 7.5 times the Earth-moon distance. The moon is, on average, about 238,000 miles from Earth.
Asteroid 2012 QG42 is, however, listed as a "potentially hazardous asteroid" by the Minor Planet Center at Cambridge, Mass., meaning it may pose a threat in the future.

At least two online observatories are tracking the asteroid's pass by Earth.

Comments

  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2012-09-12 18:19
    It's a worry when they only discovered this a couple of weeks ago!
    Better they don't tell us if they find one that's going to hit if we can't do anything about it.
  • doggiedocdoggiedoc Posts: 2,245
    edited 2012-09-12 18:25
    Kay, MIB wrote:
    There's always an Arquillian Battle Cruiser, or a Corillian Death Ray, or an intergalactic plague that is about to wipe out all life on this miserable little planet, and the only way these people can get on with their happy lives is that they DO NOT KNOW ABOUT IT!.
    I suppose football field sized asteroids smashing into Earth could be added as well. ;)

    Paul
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-09-12 18:38
    I'd want to know so I could have a REALLY good(expensive) lunch....but then I wouldn't want to know because that would probably spoil my appetite......
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2012-09-12 19:30
    Cluso99 wrote: »
    It's a worry when they only discovered this a couple of weeks ago!
    Better they don't tell us if they find one that's going to hit if we can't do anything about it.

    Bleh, could be worse. Could be on the list for an interstellar galactic bypass. I doubt anyone has checked with the planning office.

    Jeff
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-09-12 20:06
    Yeah, I'd definitely want to know if doomsday was nigh. I've got a bottle of really exquisite wine, given to me on my 60th birthday, that I've been saving for a benchmark occasion. I think imminent annihilation would probably qualify. :)

    -Phil
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2012-09-13 05:06
    Well Phil if you have it at home then ok. But don't expect to go out anywhere. Noone will be working, nothing will be running, etc.
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2012-09-13 08:49
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) wrote: »
    I think imminent annihilation would probably qualify.

    Remember when the department of homeland security suggested people build survival kits containing plastic and duck tape? A Boston Phoenix reporter wrote an article on the contents of his survival bag which contained several bottles of fine scotch and chocolate bars.
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2012-09-13 10:46
    Martin_H wrote: »
    .... fine scotch and chocolate bars.

    Sweet!

    I love Hershey's Kisses, Godiva milk chocolate, or even MM's with fine red wine.
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2012-09-13 15:11
    Do they ever know if these asteroids are tumbling? If one of them happened to crack in half just as it was coming close to us, could half of it fly into a new trajectory and hit the earth?
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