It's called Apophis. It's 390m wide. And it could hit Earth in 31 years time [Asteroid]

The Guardian (UK) ^ | December 7, 2005 | by Alok Jha

[mc6809e]

390m is not exactly a world killer. It would probably wreak considerable havoc similar to a very very large volcano. Possibly causing colder climate for maybe a few years but nothing that would kill off civilization.

Well, it won't kill off all civilizations, but it might take a couple out.

[BradyLS]

So. How much money are they asking for to make it go away? I'll make a COD...

[Lightweight]

And what are they going to sell us now.

[mc6809e]

From Wikipedia:

Possible impact effects

NASA initially estimated the energy that Apophis would have released if it impacted Earth as the equivalent of 1480 megatons of TNT (114,000 times the energy from the nuclear bomb Little Boy, dropped by the United States on Hiroshima, Japan). A more refined later estimate was 850 megatons. The impacts which created the Barringer Crater or caused the Tunguska event are estimated to be in the 10-20 megaton range. The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa was the equivalent of roughly 200 megatons.

The exact effects of any impact would have varied based on the asteroid's composition, and the location and angle of impact. Any impact would have been extremely detrimental to an area of thousands of square kilometres, but would have been unlikely to have long-lasting global effects, such as the precipitation of an impact winter.

Based on the predicted time of impact (0.89 of a day, or about 21:20 UTC) and the fact that the asteroid would be approaching the Earth from outside of its orbit, the impact was likely to occur in the Eastern Hemisphere (time zones UTC +3 to UTC +10).

Hmmm. Anywhere from about Iran to China.

[TheLion]

At least it won't be an ELE!

[JasonC]

Well, the best idea so far about deflecting these is, you send a ship up and just park it in the right location near the asteroid, and the gravitational attraction of even the wee little ship, pulls the asteroid ever so slightly off its previous trajectory. (This is called a gravitational tether, incidentally. No physical hook-up required).

If you do it in the most sensitive direction before a near gravitational slingshot past a larger body, you change its course through the deeper gravity well. Effectively, the course correction to put in before, is amplified by the next interaction. The best time to get one is several years before a close pass, letting the ship sent (which can be robotic of course) hover over it for several years. Even a small mass can do the job with enough lead time.

So no, don't wait to see if it is too close after the pass, calculate well and deflect years before the 2029 pass.

[ItsForTheChildren]

99.98200000% chance the asteroid will miss the Earth

Sure. That's what they want you to believe.

Have a nice day! :-)

[reagan_fanatic]

It's called Apophis. It's 390m wide. And it could hit Earth in 31 years time

[ApplegateRanch]

I'll be about 90 then, Sonny-boy, so if when I go, YOU'LL ALL GO WITH ME!

You'll never be able to to stop my Doomsday Rock! booowaaaAAAAHAHAHAhahahahaaaaaaaa!

[Walkingfeather]

listen there have been several stories of asteroids that have come scart close and we didn't know about them until they shot past us. All the scientists could say is ...."whoa, didn't see that coming"
So we are just as likely to get blind sided by one we can't see while we try to figure out what to do about the one we can see.
So seriously, if you don't have your soul prepared for eternity, it's time for you to make that commitment either way. If you need help with that freep mail me. Do you want to have a peace that surpasses all understanding?

[Greenpees]

I will gladly stay in the best shape I can to physically endure the rigors of fighting and ultimately sacrificing myself in the battle to stop this huge threat. Please call me when I'm 70. I'll be ready.

In fact, It'l give me a good reason to exercise.

[SunkenCiv]

Alas, there hasn't been a change in the odds of impact (1:5560) in the better part of a year.

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/a99942.html

previous topic (there has been at least one other as well):

Scientist: Asteroid May Hit Earth in 2029
Yahoo/AP | 12/23/04 | JOHN ANTCZAK
Posted on 12/23/2004 8:24:16 PM PST by hole_n_one
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1307719/posts

[Chunga]

Poor Skeeter has passed.

[SunkenCiv]

three more which have possibilities:

2000 SG344
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/2000sg344.html

2004 VD17
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/2004vd17.html

1994 WR12
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/1994wr12.html

[FEARED MUTATION]

get blind sided

Agreed, thanks, not to worry.

[SunkenCiv]

Asteroids: Deadly Impact National Geographic

[truemiester]

See the post where NASA is being underfunded, then sleep well knowing that the politians who are funding health care for illegals will perish with the rest of human-kind when that thing hits.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

"We're doomed...doomed!"

[birbear]

Paris in my sights.

[strategofr]

"So no, don't wait to see if it is too close after the pass, calculate well and deflect years before the 2029 pass."

Burp.