Posted on 06/30/2010 11:36:48 AM PDT by Dallas59
The object 2010 KH has been observed only by WISE and currently has a disgusting orbit: semimajor axis = 3.2 +- 3 AU. In fact, it might not even be a NEO. However, by using the available data, we have found Virtual impactors, including one in 2015, of course with a very low impact probability (the asteroid could be almost anywhere, thus we cannot exclude that it could be on top of us at some time in the near future).
Now this situation is very unpleasant. This object possibly does not even exist as a NEO, on the other hand the nominal solution is a NEO with absolute magnitude 18.2. Our way to handle this would be to proclaim that it has not been discovered, and refuse to give credit to WISE and to NASA for such a terrible job. However, as you well know, this kind of decision is not in our hands.
Our job is to report objects which might be impacting the Earth. It is not part of our style to adopt scare tactics to push astronomers to observe asteroids with Virtual Impactors; however, with very simple arithmetics, it can be deduced from our risk page that in case this asteroid was to impact the Earth in 2015, the impact energy is estimated at 8,000 megatons.
(Excerpt) Read more at tech.groups.yahoo.com ...
Nothing worse than being impacted...
It has a disgusting orbit.
Is it orbiting Michael Moore or something?
Would it help to run around screaming? I bet not.
Check the air in your tires then and fill your gastank with corn oil.
WE MUST do all we CAN!
/johnny
No need to worry, according the Myan calendar its all over come 2012. See, don’t worry, be happy.
Well, it’s useless to stop smoking and drinking now.
YAHHHHH!
By ‘15, we may welcome the distraction.
Wow. Completely unreadable.
Wow. Utterly unreadable.
Yes, and I think we have to stop breeding cats and dogs too! (well, according to another thread).
Indeed, it’s both completely and utterly unreadable.
...or maybe the guacamole...
I hate this.
I can't decide!
Don’t know what’s worse....Living through a second Obammy term or the earth getting hit with an asteroid.....
Preemptive strike: “Bush’s fault!!”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.