Two small asteroids in unrelated orbits are passing within the moon's distance of Earth on Wednesday,
Sept. 8, 2010. Both should be observable with moderate-sized amateur telescopes. Credit: NASA/JPL
Two small asteroids in unrelated orbits are passing within the moon's distance of Earth on Wednesday,
Sept. 8, 2010. Both should be observable with moderate-sized amateur telescopes. Credit: NASA/JPL
The best way to beat a dangerous asteroid might be another asteroid.
Not by using it to collide with the dangerous asteroid, but to wobble it.
Possible by setting out a net to “catch” the dangerous asteroid, with the net being cabled to the smaller asteroid. If the smaller asteroid is moving in a perpendicular direction, maybe propelled by an engine, when the cable tightens, something interesting happens.
The smaller asteroid is stopped by the cable, but the inertia of the dangerous asteroid pulls it in a third, arcing direction. This puts an arcing tug on the dangerous asteroid.
Within reason, even an asteroid that ways only a few tons could alter the direction of a much larger object.
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My co-worker told me about this today and I was very concerned, but then I read the facts. These ‘steroids are babies. Little guys. Even if they flew right into the earth the would probably leave a healthy sized crater, but nothing earth-changing unless they cratered into DC or London. (DAMN!)