Chance of asteroids hitting earth very slim - Russian astronomers

INterfax ^ | May 8 2006 12:01PM

[bert]

How about a small asteroid?

[bert]

I hit the button too soon.

At what point does an asteroid become a meteor?

[Cautor]

As noted in the latest edition of "Sky and Telescope," the geological evidence in the rocks going back about 200 million years shows that the earth is hit about every 60 millions years by a big one. The last hit was 63 million years ago and exterminated much of the planet's life, including the dinosaurs. It will happen again.

[x5452]

Oh and the ones who spent millions to nearly hit Mars are a bunch of geniuses? At least the Russians can still send shuttles into space.

[Reeses]

It will happen again.

Earth's wild days are almost over. We will never let a large asteroid hit Earth again. It isn't going to happen.

[qam1]

The last hit was 63 million years ago and exterminated much of the planet's life, including the dinosaurs. It will happen again.

Don't think so

The Asteroid killed the Dinos Hypothesis has been debunked for sometime now, except in the media because it just sounds so cool

[Cautor]

Hardly.

[Cautor]

"We will never let a large asteroid hit Earth again"

Don't make me laugh.

[PerConPat]

I am surprised that you didn't mention the US Atomic Weapons testing fiasco of fifty or so years ago.

Well, all nations have occasional problems in the science and technology realms, eh? I must have touched a nerve by casting aspersions onto Russia's well-known penchant for excellence.

[Tzimisce]

The Russians are the same people who debunk global warming, so they're obviously wrong.

[x5452]

We spent millions to NOT hit mars, and we still don't have regular shuttles going up (mostly because we catter to environmentalists who won't let us use the proven technologies we used in the old shuttles).

I'll start listining to Nasa again when Bush's plan to send another group to the moon is accomplished.

[Drammach]

At what point does an asteroid become a meteor?

Semi-sarcastically speaking, when it breaks up into smaller pieces...

Seriously speaking, asteroids and meteors are not the same, although the difference is size, nothing else..

Asteroids are large bodies in space.. Sometimes referred to as planetoids..
When an asteroid hits the earth, or enters the atmosphere, it is still an asteroid.. and big enough to cause some serious damage..

Meteoroids are boulder-sized at their largest, down to sand-particles.. They also are in orbit in space..
Meteoroids become Meteors when they enter the atmosphere and begin to burn, creating the "shooting star" light effect..

If a meteor manages to survive the trip to the surface, whatever remains after impact is referred to as a meteorite..

This trivia brought to you by FR and way too much free time..

[MIchaelTArchangel]

You know, if the asteroid came hurtling in and blew a hole two miles wide and 1 mile deep right where Usama bint Ladin was hunkering down, killing him and his inner circle, the surviving al Qaeda types would (1) blame the asteroid strike on the Great Satan, the United States of America, (2) claim Usama bint Ladin got 144 virgins because he is twice as great a martyr as any other Mohammedan, and (3) call for renewed attacks on anyone not a member of al Qaeda.

[freakboy]

An asteroid in the field between Mars and Jupiter can collide with another, sending it on a trajectory with our orbit.

That is exactly my point. I never said that the path was straight, only that it is governed by the laws of physics and is already determined. If such an asteroid is going to have a collision, sending it to earth, it is already on a path to do so.

[ExcursionGuy84]

I'd better contact Bruce Willis's agent to get him for the leading role in THAT story.

[Bon mots]

The Russians are right. It's impossible for an asteroid to hit the earth.

[PerConPat]

I'll start listining to Nasa again when Bush's plan to send another group to the moon is accomplished.

Fair enough. However, I was very impressed by the Deep Impact mission. And I would like to see more of this sort of thing. If there is any feasibility for larger scale interceptions of asteroids etc. we ought to explore that area.

[bruin66]

If a large asteroid is going to his us, it is already on the path to do so.

Not necessarily. An asteroid is capable of outgassing which could affect its orbit.

[LM_Guy]

The Asteroid killed the Dinos Hypothesis has been debunked for sometime now, except in the media because it just sounds so cool

Not that I have heard of, in fact I just watched a science show on the History Channel last night which stated the evidence is stronger than ever and they even know / speculate where it hit.

[LM_Guy]

"You know, if the asteroid came hurtling in and blew a hole two miles wide and 1 mile deep right where Usama bint Ladin was hunkering down"

No one in that area (Border region of Pakistan & Afghanistan) would be alive.

I believe your talking about the 2.5 x the size of the one in Arizona - Meteor Crater. Which would then have a force of about 100 Million Tons of TNT or more. Since Meteor Crater was 4000ft by 700ft when created.