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Galaxy Fireworks anyone?

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by jkaras

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Well what do you think? Dinosaur time? Just imagine if this hit Earth or the moon? Some experts were saying that the hit would be like 10,000 Hiroshima detonations, some say ice age, some even have claimed that it might just skim the moon causing all sorts of environmental catastrophies.

From what I understand the shuttle is going up specifically to get particles from the asteroid when it passes. They didnt fix the shuttle and are endangering the Astronauts on this mission. Would you go? Even if the odds are at like 1 and 185? Any chance to get into space I would, personally. I would scared you know what screaming like a little girl, but yeah I would go.

Feel free to comment either satirically or seriously.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20060626/sc_space/hugeasteroidtoflypastearthjuly3;_ylt=Asypx5cz6SAmBp7AiaaySDUDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBhZDhxNDFzBHNlYwNtZW5ld3M-

Huge Asteroid to Fly Past Earth July 3

Joe Rao
SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist
SPACE.com Mon Jun 26, 1:00 PM ET

An asteroid possibly as large as a half-mile or more in diameter is rapidly approaching the Earth. There is no need for concern, for no collision is in the offing, but the space rock will make an exceptionally close approach to our planet early on Monday, July 3, passing just beyond the Moon's average distance from Earth.

Astronomers will attempt to get a more accurate assessment of the asteroid's size by ?pinging? it with radar.

And skywatchers with good telescopes and some experience just might be able to get a glimpse of this cosmic rock as it streaks rapidly past our planet in the wee hours Monday. The closest approach occurs late Sunday for U.S. West Coast skywatchers.

The asteroid, designated 2004 XP14, was discovered on Dec. 10, 2004 by the Lincoln Laboratory Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR), a continuing camera survey to keep watch for asteroids that may pass uncomfortably close to Earth.

Although initially there were concerns that this asteroid might possibly impact Earth later this century and thus merit special monitoring, further analysis of its orbit has since ruled out any such collision, at least in the foreseeable future.

Size not known

Asteroid 2004 XP14 is a member of a class of asteroids known as Apollo, which have Earth-crossing orbits. The name comes from 1862 Apollo, the first asteroid of this group to be discovered. There are now 1,989 known Apollos.

The size of 2004 XP 14 is not precisely known. But based on its brightness, the diameter is believed to be somewhere in the range of 1,345 to 3,018-feet (410 to 920 meters). That's between a quarter mile and just over a half-mile wide.

Due to the proximity of its orbit to Earth [Map] and its estimated size, this object has been classified as a ?Potentially Hazardous Asteroid? (PNA) by the Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There are currently 783 PNAs.

The latest calculations show that 2004 XP14 will pass closest to Earth at 04:25 UT on July 3 (12:25 a.m. EDT or 9:25 p.m. PDT on July 2). The asteroid's distance from Earth at that moment will be 268,624-miles (432,308 km), or just 1.1 times the Moon's average distance from Earth.

Spotting 2004 XP14 will be a challenge, best accomplished by seasoned observers with moderate-sized telescopes.

On April 13, 2029, observers in Asia and North Africa will have a chance to see another asteroid, but without needing a telescope. Asteroid 99942 Apophis, about 1,000 feet (300 meters) wide, is expected to be visible to the naked eye as it passes within 20,000 miles (32,000 km). Astronomers say an asteroid that large comes that close about once every 1,500 years.

Observing plans

As 2004 XP14 makes its closest approach to Earth, astronomers will attempt to gauge its size and shape by analysis of very high frequency radio waves reflected from its surface.

Such radar measurements of the exact distance and velocity of the asteroid will allow for precise information on its orbit. From this scientists can also discern details of the asteroid's mass, as well as a measurement of its density, which is a very important indicator of its overall composition and internal structure.

Astronomers plan to utilize

NASA's 70-meter (230-foot) diameter Goldstone radar, the largest and most sensitive antenna in its Deep Space Network. Located in California's Mojave Desert, the Goldstone antenna has been used to bounce radio signals off other Near-Earth asteroids many times before, and it is now being readied to ?ping? 2004 XP14 on July 3, 4 and 5.

Augmenting the Goldstone observations will be radar observations scheduled at Evpatoria in the Ukraine, commencing several hours prior to the July 3 observations at Goldstone.

Editor's Note: A SPACE.com viewer's guide for 2004 XP14 will be presented in Joe Rao's weekly Night Sky column on Friday, June 30.

Gallery: Asteroids

20 replies

by jkaras

I wasnt saying they were going to get near it or land on it. They are going up there to try and get any stray particles from the asteroid after it passes if possible. Their survival rate is dependant on whether or not the fuel cells tiles will happen again since they never fixed it. The Armegeddon thing was a joke due to the shuttle going up and the possibility of the Earth or the moon getting hit with an asteroid.

by crabbyabby86

you're so upset about the state of the shuttle. i've said ever since the last tragedy, that considering the success of the tin can that took neil armstrong to the moon, we're probably as safe as we can be at this point. and they HAVE made a half-assed attempt at fixing it, you just cant dictate the time frame of rocket science.

and they keep getting their funding cut.

but as much as i love space exploration, i still wouldnt do it myself. no matter how perfect the safety features have gotten, i probably wouldnt go within a mile of any shuttle with a full fuel tank.

by dmambo

I think the Lincoln Laboratory Near Earth Asteroid Research should be stopped. In my opinion, we should only have 5 minutes notice before the next asteroid turns Kansas into a crater. I only want enough time to call my wife and tell her I'll be late for dinner.

No good can come from having a quarter century notice of oblivion. There's no way our (or any other) government could muster the politcal will to spend the money do anything about it until it's too late, so let's just enjoy the time we have. Without the worry to carry around.

by jdclyde

this is just like all the other "issues" of today. Just another way for academa to get money to research something that no one cares about or is willing to do anything about.

by j.lupo

some of us "academics" want to deal with the real issues - like me. I am more interested in practices we can implement now to fix our organizations. I am about finding solutions. Part of that is seeing the problem.

Now, I know that you think the problem is us academics trying to get money for research, but some of us do want to do real research. besides if it is a 1/2 or 1/4 century from now, what about the kids, grandkids, great-grandkids????

by onbliss

If you look around the world, it might appear that people are more interested in "religion", "land" and money; killing each other and causing hardships.

Scientific research has direct and indirect benefits. And some outright might not. Just this morning I read a news article in BBC about people studying ants in the desserts. They seems to have concluded that ants could have a kind of "paedometer". Now they are going to look for the "odometer". One might think, if only they spent some time in getting designing cheaper drugs/generics.....

Okay, I forgot the point I was trying to make. So I end with a note "Happy 4th of July".

by ontheropes

something does hit and it wakes up my dogs I'm going to be majorly ticked off! No doubt they'll want to go outside... again.

Just thinking of all the problems an Earth-strike could cause... It would no doubt happen just after I got done washing my truck BEFORE I got the wax on it.

I think a little more warning would be a good thing, say 10 minutes. That would give me plenty of time to get ready and capture that once-in-a-lifetime picture.

by j.lupo

so that means that 5 is too large. They have to have the 15 minutes first, so the muster of power to do something is really 30 seconds as they see it over head looming. Until then they are using 15 minutes to the media discussing all the things they are going to do about it soon.

by jkaras

so I can find two hotties and get that quality threesome action that I need to scratch off my list before I go. I figure it would take at least a half hour to convince two of them and the other half to get as much as I could before it's too late. I wouldnt be counting baseball scores or anything speed is the desired trait this time rather than distance. Lets face it, who are they going to tell if I was rather quick? Selfish, dam skippy.
Ever since I saw the movie "The Miracle Mile" and saw the scene of a guy humping some chick standing up against a street sign I knew if the day came, that's what I would do rather than loot or go crazy. One last hedonistic pleasure!!!!

by onbliss

Say, if the experts really come out and say on such and such a day, this and that is going to hit the Earth, and we ALL are just going to die, what would people do on that day?

Would the 24hour News Channel actually cover the story "LIVE"? Will people be glued to the TV watching themselves die?

I would want my near and dear to be with me. They would in turn want their near and dear to be with them....and so on it will go. Ultimately there will be this huge mass of people surrounding me. :D

Edited: for better grammar

by onbliss

...when I was writing that. But I have wondered about that often in my life time (not about being the focal point).

And I know Max is also in the race :-)

by tig2

As the centre of the universe, it is ALWAYS about you. Onbliss is a satellite of the mass that surrounds you.

Me personally, I want to be with my partner and the cats. On that last day, I want to grill a steak, have a martini, Thank God for the ride, and call it a day.

What a way to go!

by maecuff

not know.

If I did, I'd want my family with me, but the anticipation up to that point could adversely affect the quality of my life.

by jdclyde

"Meteor", all you have to do is re-align the soviet and US Nuke attack stalites to fire on the meteor and break it into manageable bits! :D

If that doesn't work, we can always crash land a shuttle on the surface, drill down and set some nukes inside to break it up.

Piece of cake! ;\

by onbliss

I would'nt (could'nt) be that calm and composed. Say, even if I knew it 1 year in advance and would have been already exhausted thinking about the gloom, still the last day would be pretty eventful.

I guess it is just too hypothetical.

by tig2

That I have already done the dress rehersal. Any fear of that "last day" is pretty much gone. I hope for the kind of scenario I described- relaxing day, close time with my partner, a great steak and a dry martini. And time to thank God for giving me the time to begin with.

Ain't none of us getting out of life alive. I certainly don't suggest to anyone that they just roll over. Quite the contrary. But when an event is a certainty, why fight? Besides, if I woke up the next morning, I have harmed no one but the cow by celebrating the end with a steak and a martini. And a prayer.

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