Massive asteroid could hit Earth in 2182, warn scientists

dailymail.co.uk ^ | July 28, 2010 | Niall Firth

[Sergio]

We got some very smart Freepers so here is my question. I always hear the comments of “Diverting”, “Stopping”, or “Destroying” a threatening asteroid.

Why don't I ever hear of making the asteroid travel faster?

If the asteroid can be made to travel faster, it would miss Earth by virtue of it being past the collision point, when the Earth gets to the same point.

Any ideas or comments from those that know more about this than I do?

[agere_contra]

Bizarrely enough, if you slow down or speed up an orbital object (e.g. an asteroid orbiting the Sun) it will effectively move sideways as it changes to a more or less energetic orbit.

I couldn’t tell you what the optimal or easiest nudging strategy would be, but pretty much anything would work ... as long as it didn’t end up steering the rock smack onto Yellowstone.

[married21]

Thanks for the warning. I’ll plan not to bother washing my car the day before.

[nmh]

Well, I disagree but whatever ... .

[mjp]

If the whole world is Marxist or Muslim by then, it won’t be worth saving.

[mjp]

If the whole world is Marxist or Muslim hellhole by then, it won’t be worth saving.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Captain Beyond!

• Potentially hazardous asteroid might collide with the Earth in 2182

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[Blue Collar Christian]

“We can NOT stop it anyway.”

How can you say that? The Rats are all over it and have already decided that raising taxes is the only solution to save our planet. Fixes every imagined crisis.

[nmh]

LOL!

Raising TAXES to “save our planet” is hysterically funny.

It won’t “save” anyone. It just lines the pocket of a Marxist through EMOTION and NO FACTS to back it up.

Aren’t people silly?