Scientists wake up to meteor threat ancient Greeks knew about 2500 years ago

examiner.com ^ | October 8, 2013

[BenLurkin]

60 Minutes news program ran a segment entitled "Dangerous game of 'cosmic roulette'?" This segment highlighted the NASA program aimed at finding and tracking asteroids whose orbits cross Earth's thus placing them on a collision course with us. The NASA administrators at first bragged about how they knew with confidence about 95% of all the "major" threats to our planet and were currently tracking these threats. These administrators were clearly trying to convey to the public an attitude of "don't worry, we have it all under control."

Yet as with most statements by government bureaucrats the devil is in the details. The "major" threats were defined as asteroids large enough to destroy all life on Earth. Thus asteroids large enough to merely wipe out a continent and destroy "life as we know it" were simply not being tracked yet. And asteroids large enough to wipe out a major metropolitan area were also not being tracked. And meteors the size of the one that blew up over Russia earlier this year were also not being tracked. And when confronted on these facts the NASA administrators were forced to concede the point that we could get hit tomorrow by a devastating asteroid without any warning whatsoever.

[no-to-illegals]

yep ... the views from the refractor telescope kept me up many a night enjoying the sky. Those were the times. Could almost hear the humming of space. Maybe there was an up late bee buzzing around me creating the humming sound but wow ... full agreement was viewing heaven or the heavens. The movements, in the sky, were always a fascination. Nothing would stay still .... LOL.

[Mike Darancette]

I think “Game of Thrones” describes the times before some catastrophic event.

[no-to-illegals]

Could be ... since am from old school was always taught ... anything is possible. Used to love a saying related to old school that went like this ... For the possible will need only the next moment, for the impossible will require twenty four hours.

[Mike Darancette]

The one which hit Jupiter made a hole the size of nearly Earth if not as large as Earth. Happy New Year, djf!

Shoemaker-Levy 9 made lots of holes.

[no-to-illegals]

yep, that's the name. That one broke apart and we were treated to something never filmed ... or at least that is what we think ... LOL. Have to wonder though because each invention is simply (imho) a discovery. There is nothing which one may truly call an invention for it was discovered as it was there all along. Thank You for helping me remember some of the old school.

[stormhill]

Think there was a cult that killed themselves that made the news with that one (HaleBop).

Heaven's Gate; March, 97. Hale-Bopp comet.

[Squawk 8888]

Refractor scopes are actually the best type for observing planets because they produce the sharpest images. The weakness with reflectors is that the light path is interupted by the mirrors; their only advantage is that it’s easier and cheaper to scale up a reflector to gather more light which is why they’re preferred for deep-space observing.

[no-to-illegals]

you folks are highly intelligent ... as I said upthread ... I’m the dumbest rock in the box. Not you folks. Thank You!

[Squawk 8888]

"If you've done six impossible things this morning, why not round it off with breakfast at Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe."

[no-to-illegals]

Wow .. this looks to be possible. Maybe should be worried about the white coat guys coming to get me? Are they waiters at Milliways?

[no-to-illegals]

Hale-Bopp was the one viewable from the continental U.S. Viewed this one with my daughter. We sat outside for perhaps six straight nights. Traveled East to West. More recent than I remembered. Thought was nearly twenty years ago. Missed the calculation by nearly four years. Am slipping in mind recall ... LOL. Thanks stormhill! A very pleasant memory.

[no-to-illegals]

Always loved playing with the tracking knobs on the telescope. With minor adjustment could follow any object in the sky clear across the sky. Wanted an automatic but since I bought and paid for the telescope could only afford what could afford. Worked a long time, doing odd jobs for neighbors, to buy that telescope. Was my pride and joy for many years. Then came girls. Wow! If I only knew then, what I didn’t know then ....

[Jack Hammer]

‘The “major” threats were defined as asteroids large enough to destroy all life on Earth.’

The way things are going, it’s a testament to G-d’s infinite mercy and astounding patience that He hasn’t already sent one of these our way.

[Talisker]

Very accurate maps were made centuries before it was possible to see the Earth from Space. There is no mystery here.

LOL, nice de-logic. The mystery is how those maps were made so accurately. Thank you for playing.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Timaeus and Critias By Plato

[BenLurkin]

From 1996: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/23/newsid_2547000/2547715.stm

[BenLurkin]

It came from a different direction, IIRC

[Boogieman]

Well, that wasn’t much of a landing, but I’m surprised anyone survived. Someone was looking out for them that day, I think.

[Personal Responsibility]

They can track all the asteroids and comets in the universe and it will do no good. Movies notwithstanding, if they are a collision course with us we are virtually powerless to stop them.

[BenLurkin]

You are correct — but I personally would still like a chance to at least duck.