The asteroid of 'uncertain orbit' that REALLY could smash into Earth, according to NASA

express.co.uk ^ | February 28, 2016 | Jon Austin

[calljack]

If it hits the water it still hits land.

[DoughtyOne]

Folks, if you're reading this, you know what needs to happen.
It doesn't take a big contribution. Pick your comfort level and
please join others to help put the FReepathon to rest. Thank you.

The above note was first presented to you on 02/25 at around 11:00.
The goal shortfall at that time is depicted to you on the left.
The graphic on the right reveals our status as of 02/26 22:30.
We can finish this quickly. Let's do it.

Let's give Jim, his crew, and us a full month to rest up.

Jim, his crew, and every other FReeper thanks you.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

But everybody doesn’t hit it. Just sayin.

[gop4lyf]

Excellent book. Wish it was made into a film.

[Darth Reardon]

That sign should have a question mark at the end.

[HoosierWordsmith]

This TX68 is pretty serious from my readings...not to be disparaged!

[wastedyears]

Excellent book. Wish it was made into a film.

I'd rather Footfall be made into a movie over Lucifer's Hammer.

[dr_lew]

Dude ... I’m there.

[Mom MD]

Hot fudge sundae falls on Tuesday!

[Cvengr]

That's crazy! The only way that thing could hit the Earth would be if Gravity was involved!

[WildHighlander57]

Thanks rdl6989!

All y’all, ping to topic and calculations down thread.

[Paul R.]

Water shots are worse than land shots, assuming the thing gets through most of the atmosphere relatively intact.

[SampleMan]

The oft reported reported odds concerning asteroids are deceiving. This ateroid is on a crossing orbit and is missing by just a bit more than the diameter of the Earth. It’s an issue. And asteroids the size of a bus hit the Earth more often than you might think.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

It’s only 38 meters across. I’m not that worried.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

21 times closer to us than the moon

Gahhh...do they do that just to annoy me??

[Paul R.]

Is this article about the same asteroid?

http://www.express.co.uk/news/science/644646/Real-life-Armageddon-Putin-to-fire-missile-at-dangerous-asteroid-flying-near-Earth?_ga=1.199851566.1215060498.1456804613

I must admit, the article is so full of errors and goofy sentences as to be hilarious (in a way).

[Talisker]

Anything logical evaporates at the first motion of my club.

A lot of guys are like that.

[West Texas Chuck]

"Perhaps it can be diverted to mecca or medina. It would be fitting."

Or Hollyweird.

[gop4lyf]

It was OK. Elephant aliens were a bit of a stretch for me.

[Bogie]

The asteroid has a poorly constrained orbit and often makes close approaches to Earth, and should make one such approach sometime between March 6–10, 2016.[2] While the nominal (best-fit) orbit suggests that it will pass 0.03 AU (4,500,000 km; 2,800,000 mi) from the Earth on March 8, it may pass as close as 0.0002 AU (30,000 km; 19,000 mi) (0.07 LD).[2] It may also pass as far away as 0.1 AU (15,000,000 km; 9,300,000 mi).[2] There is no risk of an Earth impact in 2016.[3] The asteroid is 21–52 meters (69–171 ft) across, making it approximately twice as large as the Chelyabinsk meteor.