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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

Posted on 12/06/2005 6:59:40 PM PST by aculeus

In Egyptian myth, Apophis was the ancient spirit of evil and destruction, a demon that was determined to plunge the world into eternal darkness.

A fitting name, astronomers reasoned, for a menace now hurtling towards Earth from outerspace. Scientists are monitoring the progress of a 390-metre wide asteroid discovered last year that is potentially on a collision course with the planet, and are imploring governments to decide on a strategy for dealing with it.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: artbell; asteroid; catastrophism; comet; doomsday; faroutman; imgettingintheshower; outerspace; spaceballs; whosgotthepopcorn
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Sleep well.
1 posted on 12/06/2005 6:59:41 PM PST by aculeus
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To: aculeus

Good grief! Right on time for the doomsday 2036 predictions I've seen around the web.


2 posted on 12/06/2005 7:02:27 PM PST by FEARED MUTATION
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To: aculeus
are imploring governments to decide on a strategy for dealing with it.

We can hope and pray that our representatives in Washington are up to the task and they they'll pass legislation to save us from this potential disaster.

3 posted on 12/06/2005 7:02:51 PM PST by Revolting cat! ("In the end, nothing explains anything.")
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To: aculeus

That's a biggin and I might still be breathing by then but great minds follow and will successfully deal with it.

mc


4 posted on 12/06/2005 7:03:06 PM PST by mcshot (I BELIEVE CONGRESSMAN WELDON. Yup! shouting it out!)
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To: aculeus; KevinDavis

I owe ya one...


5 posted on 12/06/2005 7:03:26 PM PST by sit-rep (If you acquire, hit it again to verify...)
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To: aculeus
Wouldn't it be nice if it hit Sleazywood?
Lol. Why not? It COULD happen. I'll sleep well dreaming of that target.
6 posted on 12/06/2005 7:04:00 PM PST by starfish923 (Socrates: It's never right to do wrong.)
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To: aculeus

Not Earth.

That's where I keep all my stuff.


7 posted on 12/06/2005 7:04:19 PM PST by Skooz (Santa's laughter mocks the poor.)
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To: aculeus
Image hosted by TinyPic.com

You had to know it was coming.
8 posted on 12/06/2005 7:04:38 PM PST by cripplecreek (Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
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To: aculeus

"At the peak of concern, Apophis asteroid was placed at four out of 10 on the Torino scale - a measure of the threat posed by an NEO where 10 is a certain collision which could cause a global catastrophe. This was the highest of any asteroid in recorded history and it had a 1 in 37 chance of hitting the Earth. The threat of a collision in 2029 was eventually ruled out at the end of last year.

Alan Fitzsimmons, an astronomer from Queen's University Belfast, said: "When it does pass close to us on April 13 2029, the Earth will deflect it and change its orbit. There's a small possibility that if it passes through a particular point in space, the so-called keyhole, ... the Earth's gravity will change things so that when it comes back around again in 2036, it will collide with us." The chance of Apophis passing through the keyhole, a 600-metre patch of space, is 1 in 5,500 based on current information."

I suggest that when the asteroid passes by in 2029, we all get really, really drunk and hope for the best. If things go the wrong way, the whole planet can panic and solve the problem in 7 years.


9 posted on 12/06/2005 7:04:47 PM PST by strategofr
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To: aculeus

So should we start a live thread now or wait ?


10 posted on 12/06/2005 7:04:49 PM PST by al baby (Father of the beeber)
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To: aculeus

Kneel before your god!

11 posted on 12/06/2005 7:05:10 PM PST by hattend (Roast a Tookie for Christmas.)
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To: aculeus

Wait.

I'm eligible for social security that year.

Will I still get it?


12 posted on 12/06/2005 7:05:13 PM PST by IncPen (Because it's not your money, Senator Kennedy. It's mine, and I'd like to keep it)
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To: aculeus; eyespysomething

Paging Mr. Willis. Bruce Willis, you have a call on Line 1.


13 posted on 12/06/2005 7:05:54 PM PST by SittinYonder (Flea, feather, bird, egg, nest, twig, branch, limb, tree, and the bog down in the valley - o.)
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To: aculeus

I'll be 86. I think I'll sit on the front stoop and watch it come in.


14 posted on 12/06/2005 7:07:05 PM PST by hattend (Roast a Tookie for Christmas.)
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To: aculeus
http://www.impawards.com/1979/posters/meteor_ver2.jpg
15 posted on 12/06/2005 7:07:22 PM PST by xrp (Conservative votes are to Republicans what 90% of black votes are to Democrats (taken for granted))
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To: IncPen

See me for asteroid insurance.


16 posted on 12/06/2005 7:07:35 PM PST by gas0linealley
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To: IncPen

No you will not...but not because of this asteroid...lol


17 posted on 12/06/2005 7:08:09 PM PST by willyd (No nation has ever taxed its citizens into prosperity)
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To: aculeus
You know, it's

Bush's Fault!!

18 posted on 12/06/2005 7:08:11 PM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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To: aculeus

Howard Dean will claim if we don't set a timetable to get out of Iraq he will sick the asteroid on us.


19 posted on 12/06/2005 7:08:16 PM PST by lexington minuteman 1775
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To: aculeus
Courtesy call for Mr. Barry McGuire!


20 posted on 12/06/2005 7:08:23 PM PST by Revolting cat! ("In the end, nothing explains anything.")
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