Hefty Asteroid to Sweep Near Earth. (Almost a half mile wide. Can be Seen w/Binoculars)

Sky and Telescope ^ | Roger W. Sinnott

[breakem]

Thanx Joe, can anyone here tell me the effect of a hit on the moon, could it impact the earth's orbit of whatever?

[facedown]

ping

[Atlas Sneezed]

"On the night of Saturday, August 17th, 2002 NY40 should reach magnitude 9.3"

Note that this is much dimmer than (less than 1/10) the faintest stars that can be seen in the darkest moonless skies away from city lights (ordinance or not).

This requires knowledge of where to look, and an appreciation for another dim dot among the others.

Conceptually interesting, but not visually.

[Joe Hadenuf]

If the human race ever survives another 1000 years, they will be mining asteroids. And I am sure some will be high in gold content and other elements and minerals yet unheard of.

[RightWhale]

Maybe we ought to see if we can even hit one as it passes

What about the comet impactor experiment? Didn't they do this already, or is it still on the way? Sorry I don't remember which mission it is.

[ffusco]

after iraq, its off to Klandactu! (starship troopers)

[OBAFGKM]

"The first step is mapping the courses of every orbiting object in our solar system out for about 10000 years. That wouldn't cost trillions, probably wouldn't even cost 50 million."

I'm all for continuing with the LINEAR program, but we'll never be able to identify every dangerous object -- there are too many of them that are big enough to hurt but small enough to escape detection. Moreover, the really dangerous ones -- the ones that cross earth's orbit -- have orbits that are forever being perturbed by the inner planets. In some cases, we can't even predict which side of the sun they'll be on 200 years from now!

[Joe Hadenuf]

I am going to cheat, and program the coordinance into my computerized Schmidt Cassegrain telescope and let it's on board computer find it for me. It should only take a couple of button pushes.

But you are correct. Someone that doesn't know the sky could have much difficulty.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Wasn't that an asteroid that the spacecraft hit, sending back images until landing?

[Joe Hadenuf]

Oh, now I know what you mean. And I don't recall anything about it. And I imagine a comet would react differently than an asteroid heavy in iron etc.

[NormsRevenge]

A couple of links on NEAR

Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazards

Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) project is a MIT Lincoln Laboratory program funded by the United States Air Force and NASA.

Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous EROS Landing

[Physicist]

Klandactu

Klendathu.

[NormsRevenge]

Klendathu

Gesundheit ! :-)

[RightWhale]

Deep Impact, scheduled to lift off in 2004, is slated to collide with a comet in 2005.

[rwfromkansas]

Well, at least this one won't hit us (potentially) like the one in 2019.

[cogitator]

What about the comet impactor experiment? Didn't they do this already, or is it still on the way? Sorry I don't remember which mission it is.

Deep Impact

Launches January 2004, impact encounter July 2005.

[strela]

On the night of Saturday, August 17th, 2002 NY40 should reach magnitude 9.3 when well placed for viewing from North America.

Hey, this is the night of the FRiva awards dinner in Las Vegas. Did JimR arrange the free entertainment somehow?

[cogitator]

Deep Impact, scheduled to lift off in 2004, is slated to collide with a comet in 2005.

Well, you found that out by yourself. Slight correction to the mission profile; the satellite will release an impactor (370 kg) that will guide itself to the impact on the comet. The other part of the satellite will observer. The impactor is half copper, which has a distinct spectral signature that can be filtered out of the spectra of the impact debris. The impactor will be traveling 10 km/second; the comet is moving extremely fast too, so this is a high-pressure shot and they only get one chance.

[Charles Martel]

Who, us... vulnerable??

[Mudboy Slim]

"Probably won't see it do to excessive street lighting in the city."

Damned Light Pollution!! There oughtta be a Law...MUD