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To: KarlInOhio
So after 3 years they can still only narrow down the nearest pass to +/- 4.5 million miles? I really hope something was lost in the writing of the article.

This is amazing. The main of error is about 500 times greater than the potential closest approach.

1. In practical terms this means the if the margin of error is too low by 0.2% a direct hit is possible.

2. How is this close encounter going to effect the future trajectory of the asteroid? This is not just a theoretical question. Comet Shoemaker-Levy passed close to Jupiter and on a later even closer orbit broke into pieces and eventually all of them hit the planet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Shoemaker%E2%80%93Levy_9

13 posted on 02/06/2016 11:35:25 AM PST by CurlyDave
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To: CurlyDave
How is this close encounter going to effect the future trajectory of the asteroid?

Was wondering that myself. Its orbit could be affected such that the next time around it hits earth (or never passes near us again).

How long before this rock shows up again (if ever)?

And by the way, the rock that made this crater was only slightly larger, 160 feet across.


19 posted on 02/06/2016 12:03:54 PM PST by ZOOKER (Until further notice the /s is implied...)
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