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Space rock 'on collision course'(Yes another one)
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Space rock 'on collision course'
An asteroid could devastate Earth
By Dr David Whitehouse
BBC News Online science editor
An asteroid discovered just weeks ago has become the most threatening object yet detected in space.
A preliminary orbit suggests that 2002 NT7 is on an impact course with Earth and could strike the planet on 1 February, 2019 - although the uncertainties are large.
Astronomers have given the object a rating on the so-called Palermo technical scale of threat of 0.06, making NT7 the first object to be given a positive value.
From its brightness, astronomers estimate it is about two kilometres wide, large enough to cause continent-wide devastation on Earth.
Many observations
Although astronomers say the object definitely merits attention, they expect more observations to show it is not on an Earth-intersecting trajectory.
This asteroid has now become the most threatening object in the short history of asteroid detection
Dr Benny Peiser
It was first seen on the night of 5 July, picked up by the Linear Observatory's automated sky survey programme in New Mexico, US.
Since then astronomers worldwide have been paying close attention to it, amassing almost 200 observations in a few weeks.
Dr Benny Peiser, of Liverpool John Moores University in the UK, told BBC News Online that "this asteroid has now become the most threatening object in the short history of asteroid detection".
NT7 circles the Sun every 837 days and travels in a tilted orbit from about the distance of Mars to just within the Earth's orbit.
Potential devastation
Detailed calculations of NT7's orbit suggest many occasions when its projected path through space intersects the Earth's orbit.
Researchers estimate that on 1 February, 2019, its impact velocity on the Earth would be 28 km a second - enough to wipe out a continent and cause global climate changes.
However, Dr Peiser was keen to point out that future observations could change the situation.
He said: "This unique event should not diminish the fact that additional observations in coming weeks will almost certainly - we hope - eliminate the current threat."
Easily observable
According to astronomers, NT7 will be easily observable for the next 18 months or so, meaning there is no risk of losing the object.
Observations made over that period - and the fact that NT7 is bright enough that it is bound to show up in old photographs - mean that scientists will soon have a very precise orbit for the object.
Dr Donald Yeomans, of the US space agency's (Nasa) Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, told BBC News Online: "The orbit of this object is rather highly inclined to the Earth's orbit so it has been missed because until recently observers were not looking for such objects in that region of space."
Regarding the possibility of an impact, Dr Yeomans said the uncertainties were large.
"The error in our knowledge of where NT7 will be on 1 February, 2019, is large, several tens of millions of kilometres," he said.
Dr Yeomans said the world would have to get used to finding more objects like NT7 that, on discovery, look threatening, but then become harmless.
"This is because the problem of Near-Earth Objects is now being properly addressed," he said.
WATCH/LISTEN
ON THIS STORY
The BBC's David Whitehouse
"The rock hurtles through space at 17 miles per second"
Dr Donald Yeomans, Nasa
"The threat is very minimal"
Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik
"In cosmic terms it's a very close call"
See also:
15 Jul 02 | Science/Nature
Asteroids 'could trigger nuclear war'
05 Apr 02 | Science/Nature
Asteroid could hit Earth in 2880
08 Nov 01 | Science/Nature
Earth at 'lower risk' of impact
23 Feb 01 | Science/Nature
Asteroid 'destroyed life 250m years ago'
30 Oct 01 | Science/Nature
Mystery space blast 'solved'
Internet links:
The Near Earth Object page
Asteroid impact hazards
NT7 Risk Summary - Nasa
NT7 Data - Near Earth Objects
Asteroids - BBC Science
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Top Science/Nature stories now:
Space rock 'on collision course'
Mars lander takes shape
Reduce animal testing, Lords urge
Anthrax found at Scott's Antarctic camp
Bush approves nuclear dump
Sperm Wars help mice breed
How random is pi?
Silent polio carrier highlights risk
Links to more Science/Nature stories are at the foot of the page.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2147879.stm
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
An asteroid could devastate Earth
By Dr David Whitehouse
BBC News Online science editor
An asteroid discovered just weeks ago has become the most threatening object yet detected in space.
A preliminary orbit suggests that 2002 NT7 is on an impact course with Earth and could strike the planet on 1 February, 2019 - although the uncertainties are large.
Astronomers have given the object a rating on the so-called Palermo technical scale of threat of 0.06, making NT7 the first object to be given a positive value.
From its brightness, astronomers estimate it is about two kilometres wide, large enough to cause continent-wide devastation on Earth.
Many observations
Although astronomers say the object definitely merits attention, they expect more observations to show it is not on an Earth-intersecting trajectory.
This asteroid has now become the most threatening object in the short history of asteroid detection
Dr Benny Peiser
It was first seen on the night of 5 July, picked up by the Linear Observatory's automated sky survey programme in New Mexico, US.
Since then astronomers worldwide have been paying close attention to it, amassing almost 200 observations in a few weeks.
Dr Benny Peiser, of Liverpool John Moores University in the UK, told BBC News Online that "this asteroid has now become the most threatening object in the short history of asteroid detection".
NT7 circles the Sun every 837 days and travels in a tilted orbit from about the distance of Mars to just within the Earth's orbit.
Potential devastation
Detailed calculations of NT7's orbit suggest many occasions when its projected path through space intersects the Earth's orbit.
Researchers estimate that on 1 February, 2019, its impact velocity on the Earth would be 28 km a second - enough to wipe out a continent and cause global climate changes.
However, Dr Peiser was keen to point out that future observations could change the situation.
He said: "This unique event should not diminish the fact that additional observations in coming weeks will almost certainly - we hope - eliminate the current threat."
Easily observable
According to astronomers, NT7 will be easily observable for the next 18 months or so, meaning there is no risk of losing the object.
Observations made over that period - and the fact that NT7 is bright enough that it is bound to show up in old photographs - mean that scientists will soon have a very precise orbit for the object.
Dr Donald Yeomans, of the US space agency's (Nasa) Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, told BBC News Online: "The orbit of this object is rather highly inclined to the Earth's orbit so it has been missed because until recently observers were not looking for such objects in that region of space."
Regarding the possibility of an impact, Dr Yeomans said the uncertainties were large.
"The error in our knowledge of where NT7 will be on 1 February, 2019, is large, several tens of millions of kilometres," he said.
Dr Yeomans said the world would have to get used to finding more objects like NT7 that, on discovery, look threatening, but then become harmless.
"This is because the problem of Near-Earth Objects is now being properly addressed," he said.
WATCH/LISTEN
ON THIS STORY
The BBC's David Whitehouse
"The rock hurtles through space at 17 miles per second"
Dr Donald Yeomans, Nasa
"The threat is very minimal"
Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik
"In cosmic terms it's a very close call"
See also:
15 Jul 02 | Science/Nature
Asteroids 'could trigger nuclear war'
05 Apr 02 | Science/Nature
Asteroid could hit Earth in 2880
08 Nov 01 | Science/Nature
Earth at 'lower risk' of impact
23 Feb 01 | Science/Nature
Asteroid 'destroyed life 250m years ago'
30 Oct 01 | Science/Nature
Mystery space blast 'solved'
Internet links:
The Near Earth Object page
Asteroid impact hazards
NT7 Risk Summary - Nasa
NT7 Data - Near Earth Objects
Asteroids - BBC Science
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Top Science/Nature stories now:
Space rock 'on collision course'
Mars lander takes shape
Reduce animal testing, Lords urge
Anthrax found at Scott's Antarctic camp
Bush approves nuclear dump
Sperm Wars help mice breed
How random is pi?
Silent polio carrier highlights risk
Links to more Science/Nature stories are at the foot of the page.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2147879.stm
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Comments
One, a two, bend over , kiss !!!! Cracccckkkkkkk!
Where is the quiropractorrrrrrrrrr !!!!!
JD
Good...? , Bad...? Who cares ? as long I am the one with the the gun.....
I heard this on Art Bell last night, but had not had a chance to check it out for veracity yet.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
If this thing is on a collision course, surely in nearly 17 years we can figure out a way to destroy it or divert it.
Maybe not. Maybe it is part of the Plan.
SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net
But dont worry there is quite stuff up there to knock it out of orbit...
Else they may want to use it as a continental eraser to valance the economic trade deficit with china .... In that case start the butt kissing goodby practices......
JD
Good...? , Bad...? Who cares ? as long I am the one with the the gun.....
.218
I dont eat much, I'll clean up after myself, I can play the Jew's harp! Come on man!