BS: close enough?

Subject: BS: close enough? (Asteroid)
From: beardedbruce
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 09:35 AM

Scientists are unsure of the 460-foot-wide rock's exact composition, or how devastating its impact would be. But after observing the space rock's orbit, they've calculated a 1-in-625 chance that the asteroid called 2011 AG5 could collide with Earth on Feb. 5, 2040. "2011 AG5 is the object which currently has the highest chance of impacting the Earth," says Detlef Koschny of the European Space Agency.

http://news.yahoo.com/could-humongous-asteroid-really-hit-earth-2040-134500007.html

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 09:59 AM

I won't get to celebrate my 95th birthday?????

Now I'm going to worry for the next 27.9167 years.

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: gnu
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 10:01 AM

Drink up. There's not much time left.

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 10:04 AM

It's the end of the world as we know it!

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: gnu
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 04:52 PM

I like the Newfie version better.

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 05:14 PM

460 ft.? Why, that would barely disturb my neighborhood.....or the nursing home I will be in at 101....

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 05:38 PM

Heck, a rock that size could cause a Mass Extinction! But what do I care? I'm not Catholic.

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: Don Firth
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 05:46 PM

Fear not! Bruce Willis will save us!

If he can save the earth by blowing up an asteroid the size of Texas, this pebble should be no problem.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 06:04 PM

It will come 27 years too late, the Maryan Colander will have killed us all by then.

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: gnu
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 07:53 PM

But, Bruce willis be 86 when it's nigh. Ya think he'll be up for it?

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 11:59 PM

Current estimates are based on observation of only a small fraction of a single orbit, and thus are "speculative" at best.

The scientists who presented information on this object at a recent meeting warned against "premature alarm," and a fair percentage of the others at that particular conference essentially said "who cares, until there's better data."

It's reassuring that somebody is watching such things, although their assurances that there's "plenty of time" to make plans to deflect it after better information is available aren't as heart warming as they might be if anyone had figured out just how you might do that. (There's little agreement on what kind of plans could/should be made.)

Massive budget cuts for current space programs (they are real) also don't make some of us very confident that we'll have the hardware for such a program if the need happens to creep up on us. (But maybe that was one of the points the presenters had in mind?)

John

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Mar 12 - 12:22 AM

Good point, John.

gnu, loved it!

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: gnu
Date: 02 Mar 12 - 05:04 PM

BTW... I actually wasted my time watching that movie. One of the reasons I only watch comedies and documentaries these days.

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: GUEST,grumpy
Date: 03 Mar 12 - 02:30 PM

What the heck's the 'Maryan Colander'? Do you mean Mayan Calendar?

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 03 Mar 12 - 02:57 PM

Cliche time: Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades!

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: gnu
Date: 03 Mar 12 - 03:18 PM

You've never heard the joke about the Engieer and the mathematician.

Subject: RE: BS: close enough?
From: gnu
Date: 03 Mar 12 - 03:19 PM

EngiNeer... but, close enough. >;-)