Posted on 08/22/2014 2:31:59 PM PDT by nickcarraway
However, scientists claim there is no cause for concern because the hundreds of years of warning could allow for a method to divert it
Researchers studying a huge asteroid that is hurtling towards earth say there is a possibility of it striking our planet on March 16, 2880!
They say the rock rotates so quickly that it should break apart, but it remained intact on its Earth-bound trajectory, according to a report in Dailymail.co.uk
Though studies have revealed that Asteroid 1950DA is held together by cohesive forces called van der Waals, scientists still have no clue on how to stop it.
The rock is about 3,280ft (1,000 metres) in diameter and rotates once every two hours and six minutes.
At this rate, the rock should break apart and eventually disintegrate, but it is not showing any signs of doing so.
Although the probability of an impact is only 0.3 per cent, this represents a risk 50 per cent greater than an impact from all other asteroids.
However, scientists claim there is no cause for concern because the hundreds of years of warning could allow for a method to divert it, such as dusting the surface of the asteroid with chalk or charcoal, or white glass beads. This would change its reflectivity and allow sunlight to do the work of pushing the asteroid out of the way.
Nasa is currently tracking all 1,400 potentially hazardous asteroids so far identified and predicting their future close approaches and impact probabilities.
Before or after Lunch?
You got Asteroids?
No but my dad does, can’t even sit on the toilet sometimes.
Now, I’m going to have to change the St. Patrick’s Day festivities that year.
The boys aren’t gonna like this.
Has anyone alerted BPEarfBotch yet?
Asteriod smashteroid,as long as the internet keeps working! and even if it doesn’t,we have a ping list!
Just talked to my Bookie and he says the odds of that happening are worse than the odds of this thing hitting us...
Thanks for the heads up~~~I’ll avoid reincarnation at that time~
In the year 2828....
Oh well...better go ahead and put the house on the market.
I’m not staying here.
Not to my knowledge.
I guess I really need to get my roof fixed now!
Well, I’m going outside right now and yell at it for you.
No need for you to miss your vacation.
Just when I was planning to straighten out, turn my life around, start sharing positivity and reach out to the community as an outspoken advocate of reaching out to the community.
>> In the year 2525, if man is still alive, if woman can survive, they may find . . . <<
IMO, a Carrington event will destroy our civilization long before that.
I’m not worried. By 2880 Star Trek type technology will be available and I’ll have moved to planet with the green-skinned erotic dancing girls.
With roughly a 12% chance per decade. Dunno whether it will wreck civilization, but frankly I'd rather not be around to see it.
God knows how to play pool. They should be looking for the other asteroid in its path.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.