Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products Lists
  • Developer
  • 5G
  • Security
  • Cloud
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Tech & Work
  • Mobility
  • Big Data
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • CES
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Top Products Lists
  • Developer
  • 5G
  • Security
  • Cloud
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Tech & Work
  • Mobility
  • Big Data
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • CES
  • See All Topics
  • Sponsored
  • Newsletters
  • Forums
  • Resource Library
TechRepublic Premium
Join / Sign In
After Hours

Asteroid of doom – or maybe not

By Andy Smith March 1, 2012, 7:41 PM PST

Image
1
of 8

Asteroid of doom – or maybe not

ntAn 460 foot wide asteroid is making the rounds over the Internet as a potential threat to Earth in 2040. Headlines like: “Asteroid Threat: Why do they hate us,” “Asteroids facing unvarying barrage of high-speed impacts,” and “Armegeddon 2040.” But NASA says hold on.

n

ntAsteroid 2011 AG5 was discovered in January 2011 using a telescope at the summit of Mt. Lemon north of Tucson, Az. Currently, the asteroid cannot be tracked until 2013 due to its position in the daytime sky.

n

ntThe orbit of asteroid 2011 AG5 carries it beyond the orbit of Mars to halfway between Earth and Venus. It is expected to pass no closer to Earth than 1 million miles in 2023 and 10.4 millon miles in 2028. The Earth’s orbit should change it’s orbit slightly giving it a super-slim chance of hitting the Earth on Feb. 5, 2040.

n

ntIn this gallery, we’ll look at the chances of Asteroid 2011 hitting Earth and how space agencies are tracking it.

n

ntImage credit: NASA/JPL/Caltech/NEOPO

Asteroid of doom – or maybe not

ntPhotoshop-created images like this one have spread across the Internet. NASA says the asteroid has a 1 in 650 chance to hit the Earth. Sounds possible but when you figure that’s a 0.15 percentage chance.

n

ntIf it does have a chance to strike Earth, potential solutions such as nuclear bombs or attaching a weight to one side of it to adjust its orbit have been proposed. Maybe we should watch Armageddon again.

Asteroid of doom – or maybe not

ntHere’s what an asteroid collision with Earth might look like from space.

n

ntA massive impact could cause large tsunamis or what is called an impact winter where a large amount of dust collects in the stratosphere and blocks sunlight. An impact winter may have caused the extinction of dinosaurs.

n

ntAn asteroid this large would create a crater of a little more than 1/2 mile wide according to an Impact Earth chart developed at Purdue University.

n

ntCredit: NASA

Asteroid of doom – or maybe not

ntAsteroid 2011 AG5 is currently rated No. 1 on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale which assesses the chances of an asteroid hitting Earth.

n

ntCredit: NASA

Asteroid of doom – or maybe not

ntThis chart shows the number of asteroids that have been discovered and are being tracked as of Feb. 2012.

Asteroid of doom – or maybe not

ntA chart from NASA’s Near Earth Observation Program puts 2011 AG5 on the list of objects that have not been observed recently.

Asteroid of doom – or maybe not

ntHere’s a chart of the asteroids that will be passing closest to Earth from the Near Earth Observation Program.

n

ntCredit: NASA

Asteroid of doom – or maybe not

ntAn asteroid 460-feet wide could create some major damage if hit a populated area. Here’s a photo of Meteor Crater in Arizona. It was formed by an asteroid about 80-miles wide between 20,000 and 50,000 years ago. It’s about 1.2 km deep (about 3/4 of a mile).

n

ntCredit: Smithsonian

  • After Hours
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Asteroid of doom – or maybe not

    Your email has been sent

Share: Asteroid of doom - or maybe not
Image of Andy Smith
By Andy Smith
  • Account Information

    Contact Andy Smith

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Andy's content

TechRepublic Premium

  • TechRepublic Premium

    Shadow IT policy

    Shadow IT is a concept whereby an organization’s employees use technology, services or systems without the knowledge of or approval from the IT department. It has arisen due to several reasons: Advances in cloud computing, which involve the usage of applications or sharing of data in public environments previously owned by IT. The evolution of ...

    Published:  February 2, 2023, 11:00 AM EST Modified:  February 3, 2023, 2:00 PM EST Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Auditing and logging policy

    Auditing and logging are essential measures for protecting mission-critical systems and troubleshooting problems. This policy outlines the appropriate auditing and logging procedures for computer systems, networks and devices that store or transport critical data. From the policy: Many computer systems, network devices and other technological hardware used in the enterprise can audit and log various ...

    Published:  February 2, 2023, 11:00 AM EST Modified:  February 3, 2023, 3:00 PM EST Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Vendor contract renewal planner

    Determining how and when to renew support contracts can be tedious and time-consuming. Our vendor contract renewal planner will help you schedule support renewals and budget the related costs. From the planner: Some companies schedule their support contract renewals to take effect all at once, such as on January 1. This provides a convenient renewal ...

    Published:  February 1, 2023, 11:00 AM EST Modified:  February 2, 2023, 12:00 PM EST Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Access management policy

    Without appropriate access management controls, businesses are at significant risk from the loss or theft of both physical and digital assets. Access management controls establish who is allowed the appropriate level of access in order to do their jobs, while reducing the potential for damage or harm to the company. The purpose of this policy ...

    Downloads
    Published:  February 1, 2023, 11:00 AM EST Modified:  February 2, 2023, 4:00 PM EST Read More See more TechRepublic Premium

Services

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information

Explore

  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Twitter
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on Flipboard
© 2023 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Property of TechnologyAdvice