Posted on 08/22/2014 2:31:59 PM PDT by nickcarraway
However, scientists claim there is no cause for concern because the hundreds of years of warning could allow for a method to divert it
Researchers studying a huge asteroid that is hurtling towards earth say there is a possibility of it striking our planet on March 16, 2880!
They say the rock rotates so quickly that it should break apart, but it remained intact on its Earth-bound trajectory, according to a report in Dailymail.co.uk
Though studies have revealed that Asteroid 1950DA is held together by cohesive forces called van der Waals, scientists still have no clue on how to stop it.
The rock is about 3,280ft (1,000 metres) in diameter and rotates once every two hours and six minutes.
At this rate, the rock should break apart and eventually disintegrate, but it is not showing any signs of doing so.
Although the probability of an impact is only 0.3 per cent, this represents a risk 50 per cent greater than an impact from all other asteroids.
However, scientists claim there is no cause for concern because the hundreds of years of warning could allow for a method to divert it, such as dusting the surface of the asteroid with chalk or charcoal, or white glass beads. This would change its reflectivity and allow sunlight to do the work of pushing the asteroid out of the way.
Nasa is currently tracking all 1,400 potentially hazardous asteroids so far identified and predicting their future close approaches and impact probabilities.
I scheduled that day off too. Wouldn’t you know it.
Wouldn’t you know it? I’m really the immortal vampire Nosferatu and am greatly concerned about this.
“The sun will go nova and destroy the earth in 2 billion years.”
“What? OMG, OMG. That’s horrible!”
“Horrible? It won’t be for two billion years!”
“Billion? Oh, whew. I thought you said million.”
That’s my VA appointment....
/johnny
-PJ
WE’RE DOOMED!
This is going to happen in the 80s. It will be blamed on Reagan and greed.
You must have some good connections to get one that early.
Ok Cubs fans, you have 866 more chances to win the World Series.
Oh Well.
DANG...I hate it when that happens.
I think that my husband may be retired by then. So much for buying a home in Florida.
Wow, somewhere in the headlines I wish it they would have added...... 99.7% Chance it won't hit earth.
"Oh, you're no fun anymore."
The environmental impact study mandated by the EPA will take at least that long to come to a conclusion on what to do.
In the year 2525, if man is still alive, if woman can survive, they may find....
think of all the trouble that will save the IT guys for Y3K.
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