House-Size Asteroid Gives Earth a Close Shave Today

Yahoo! News ^ | 10/12/12 | Tarik Maliq - Space.com

[NormsRevenge]

An asteroid the size of a house will buzz Earth today (Oct. 12) but poses no risk of hitting our planet, scientists say.

The asteroid 2012 TC4 will pass Earth at a range of just 59,000 miles (95,000 kilometers) —about one-fourth the distance to the moon — when it makes its closest point today, NASA scientists said. The asteroid was discovered by astronomers on Oct. 4 and is about 56 feet (17 meters) across.

"Small asteroid 2012 TC4 will safely pass Earth Oct 12 at just .25 the distance to our moon's orbit," scientists with NASA's Asteroid Watch program wrote in a Twitter update this week. On average, the moon's orbit is about 238,000 miles (383,000 km).

The asteroid is large enough to be seen by backyard astronomers using a small telescope, the night sky events website Spaceweather.com has reported.

[NormsRevenge]

I think all the deep space guys got purged .. or sumthin’ :-}

[null and void]

something that size could ruin your day.

If it landed at 21°25′0″N 39°49′0″E, it would make my day...

[Gator113]

I turn 64 at the end of this month .... so I completely agree. ;>)

I am not in a hurry to get ‘there’, but I look forward to the changes.

[CommerceComet]

Sure hope their math is on the mark, something that size could ruin your day.

If it was size of a house when it hit the earth. I'm guessing that most of it would have burned up when it entered our atmosphere. The article did say that it was too small to pose a risk to the earth, so I'm guessing what would have remained might have made a neat little crater but wouldn't have any major effects (unless you were standing at ground zero).

[LibWhacker]

Asteroid 2012 TC4 is too small to pose a risk to Earth.

Yes, but it wouldn't have to destroy Earth to ruin your day. Who knows how much would even reach Earth after passing through Earth's atmosphere? Depends on so many different things: composition, angle of entry, speed, etc.

Only a chunk about 150 feet across survived entry (about half burned up in the atmosphere during entry) 50,000 years ago to blast out Meteor Crater in Arizona. That little remaining piece created a hole three-quarters of a mile wide and 1,000 feet deep, which then was partially refilled immediately by the rubble. Imagine that landing in Central Park. Someone wouldn't need their alarm clock that morning!

[Democrat_media]

It’s ok it would evaporate anyway but as long as the story distracts from the terrible economy and the election then NASA will be happy. NASA another government agency faking crap to get Obama elected. your tax dollars being stolen for advancement of socialism

[Democrat_media]

It’s ok it would evaporate anyway but as long as the story distracts from the terrible economy and the election then NASA will be happy. NASA another government agency faking crap to get Obama elected. your tax dollars being stolen for advancement of socialism

[blueunicorn6]

If there is any justice in this world, it will land on Nancy Pelosi and all you’ll see is her nasty feet sticking out from under it.

[hillarys cankles]

I just wanna see the thing coming. What a way to go out!

[LibWhacker]

Wow, I'm so glad I did my dissertation, Science And The So-Called Laws Of Physics Are A Big Load Of Crap That Communists Dreamed Up To Distract Us So They Could Steal Our Stuff And Win The Election. What would I have done if you had written it first??? Probably been a ditch digger. So thank you. Thank you so much for . . . I don't want to say for being born yesterday, that'd be rude . . . but for, let's say, being born later.

[Democrat_media]

You support NASA a government agency, you trust government and global warming when NASA are one of the main idiots pushing global warming hoax. here's a clue goverment(socialism) doesn't work, big government leads to tyranny ok, got it?

You want us to believe that one corrupt idiotic, leftist, government bureaucrat can run 1000 businesses better than 1000 busisness owners can at the same time and with someone else;s money (the bureaucrat uses tax payer money not it's own), you want us to believe that?

[CommerceComet]

It’s ok it would evaporate anyway but as long as the story distracts from the terrible economy and the election then NASA will be happy. NASA another government agency faking crap to get Obama elected. your tax dollars being stolen for advancement of socialism

It's pretty clear from your post that someone has an agenda. I'm not sure it's NASA, though.

[djf]

Odds are it would hit in the ocean.

Creating a tsunami far larger than anything in recorded history!

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Impact Earth!

Have fun.

[LibWhacker]

you want us to believe that?

The problem is, you've jumped to so many invalid conclusions, it's mind boggling. Just look:

You support NASA a government agency,

WHERE did I say that??? I can guarantee you I'm a bigger critic of NASA than you are. If there's a difference, it is because I try to criticize them for valid reasons.

you trust government and global warming

Absolutely without any basis whatsoever... WTF are you talking about??? I have an inherent and intense distrust of government. And why are you bringing up global warming? No one said anything about global warming. I've said many times right here on FR that I think it's one of the biggest hoaxes of the 20th, and now the 21st, Century. Man, you're like the angry little monkey at the zoo, slinging his feces at anyone within range, hoping it'll hit someone -- you don't care whether he's an innocent person or not.

here's a clue

I know who needs a clue and it isn't me.

goverment(socialism)

No, government and socialism aren't the same thing. The Founders gave us a government. Do you seriously believe they were trying to foist socialism on us?

big government leads to tyranny ok

Maybe one of the only things you got right.

You want us to believe that one corrupt idiotic, leftist, government bureaucrat can run 1000 businesses better than 1000 busisness owners can at the same time and with someone else;s money

I said absolutely nothing of the kind. I don't even believe it. In fact, I believe just the opposite of it. I didn't imply it either. You're just pulling monkey crap out of a dark recess on your body that I can't mention and flinging it in every possible direction in the hopes that I'll be standing there.

Now, here are some clues for you. Science is not bad. Science is good. This asteroid really exists and it missed Earth by a pretty narrow margin today. It's news. It may not interest you, but it is news and it interests some of the most conservative Freepers out there.

Always try to frame your arguments in such a way that it reflects well on FR. Especially with the election so near. We're trying to win hearts and minds here. We must be serious and win this election next month. So we have to resist going for the cheap laugh just because we can, and just because we're fed up with their nonsense and don't believe liberal arguments deserve serious consideration. Believe me, I know the feeling and have been known to throw out some flip answers myself. The fence sitters are out there and they're trying to decide who makes the best arguments. I think you'll agree, today wasn't one of your best efforts. You can do better. Cheers!

[NormsRevenge]

Cool site, Thanks!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks NormsRevenge.

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[SunkenCiv]

Thanks LibWhacker, FFF alert.

[gleeaikin]

I heard an interesting report today about recently fallen Mars rocks that are being studied by scientists, Morocco I think. Described scientists arriving at the scene with dozens of locals roaming around looking for fragments which they have learned have a good market. Scientists have ended up with several pieces and are confirming information that is coming from the current Mars exploration vehicle. Meteors were apparently caused by a big boloid strike on Mars that threw fragments into the air that have recently arrived and fallen on earth.

[Democrat_media]

Yeah I have an agenda and that is to reduce the size of government at all levels and for the U.S. to follow the constitution. NASA does too as their all their propagandizing for Global warming shows. Problem is NASA has billions of dollars and the power of government to do it while I'm just an individual who seeks to persuade individuals with words and logical arguments, while NASA has real power ( billions of $ ) to do it with. So while to you I may a threat ( why I don't know cause i say the truth?) actually the threat is Obama and government ( including NASA, the EPA, IRS, BLS , government schools and the thousands of other agencies all under the control of a Marxist tyranicall POS called Obama)