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Orange Dwarf Star Set to Smash into The Solar System
technologyreview.com ^ | March 12, 2010

Posted on 03/15/2010 8:14:32 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY

A new set of star velocity data indicates that Gliese 710 has an 86 percent chance of ploughing into the Solar System within the next 1.5 million years.

The Solar System is surrounded by thousands of stars, but until recently it wasn't at all clear where they were all heading.

In 1997, however, astronomers published the Hipparcos Catalogue giving detailed position and velocity measurements of some 100,000 stars in our neighbourhood, all gathered by the European Space Agency's Hipparcos spacecraft. It's fair to say that the Hipparcos data has revolutionised our understanding of the 'hood.

In particular, this data allowed astronomers to work out which stars we'd been closer to in the past and which we will meet in the future. It turns out that 156 stars fall into this category and that the Sun has a close encounter with another star (meaning an approach within 1 parsec) every 2 million years or so.

In 2007, however, the Hipparcos data was revised and other measurements of star velocities have since become available. How do these numbers change the figures?

Today, Vadim Bobylev at the Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory in St Petersburg gives us the answer. He's combined the Hipparcos data with several new databases and found an additional nine stars that have either had a close encounter with the Sun or are going to.

But he's also made a spectacular prediction. The original Hipparcos data showed that an orange dwarf star called Gliese 710 is heading our way and will arrive sometime within the next 1.5 million years.

(Excerpt) Read more at technologyreview.com ...


TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: catastrophism
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1 posted on 03/15/2010 8:14:33 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Bush’s fault.


2 posted on 03/15/2010 8:15:28 PM PDT by Hoodat (For the weapons of our warfare are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY
"...an 86 percent chance of ploughing into the Solar System within the next 1.5 million years."

Dang!! Barely enough time to pull your head down between your legs and kiss it goodbye.

3 posted on 03/15/2010 8:17:23 PM PDT by davisfh ( Islam is a very serious mental and social illness)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Assuming we make it past December 2012, that is...


4 posted on 03/15/2010 8:17:31 PM PDT by 70times7 (Serving Free Republics' warped and obscure humor needs since 1999!)
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To: Free ThinkerNY; shibumi; humblegunner; Jet Jaguar; Slings and Arrows; Eaker

*Yawn*

We’re all gonna die.

[needs more cowbell, etc etc etc]


5 posted on 03/15/2010 8:17:43 PM PDT by Salamander (....and I'm sure I need some rest but sleepin' don't come very easy in a straight white vest.......)
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To: Salamander

BTTT


6 posted on 03/15/2010 8:18:22 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar (*)
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To: Markos33

Oops.

C&Ped in a hurry and you almost missed the end of the world as we know it.


7 posted on 03/15/2010 8:19:35 PM PDT by Salamander (....and I'm sure I need some rest but sleepin' don't come very easy in a straight white vest.......)
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To: Free ThinkerNY
an 86 percent chance of ploughing into the Solar System within the next 1.5 million years.

Brought to you by the cousins of those that gave you 'Global Warming.'
8 posted on 03/15/2010 8:20:13 PM PDT by lmr (God punishes Conservatives by making them argue with fools.)
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To: Jet Jaguar

Pffft.

You just wanna show off that star of yours.

:-P


9 posted on 03/15/2010 8:21:23 PM PDT by Salamander (....and I'm sure I need some rest but sleepin' don't come very easy in a straight white vest.......)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

We’re all gonna die in 1.5 million years!!!!


10 posted on 03/15/2010 8:21:50 PM PDT by Beowulf9
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To: Free ThinkerNY


11 posted on 03/15/2010 8:21:50 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Great. Something else to scare us.


12 posted on 03/15/2010 8:22:02 PM PDT by beckysueb (Scott Brown is a start. Lets keep it going.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Rats, I have a hot date that night.


13 posted on 03/15/2010 8:24:03 PM PDT by razorback-bert ( if you're doing an experiment, you should report everything that you think might make it invalid)
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To: Salamander

LOL


14 posted on 03/15/2010 8:26:15 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar (*)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

15 posted on 03/15/2010 8:27:47 PM PDT by Hoodat (For the weapons of our warfare are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.)
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To: Salamander; Free ThinkerNY; Markos33; humblegunner; Jet Jaguar; Slings and Arrows; Eaker
I'm cool with it, just as long as it's the planet Mongo, and I get to check out Princess Aura, up close and personal.


16 posted on 03/15/2010 8:30:38 PM PDT by shibumi ("..... then we will fight in the shade." (Cool Star - *))
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Gliese 710

As the sky looking towards it looks to us now:

And in about 1.5 million years from now:


17 posted on 03/15/2010 8:32:22 PM PDT by Screaming_Gerbil (...he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one... Luke 22:36)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Whatever... as long as Al Gore doesn’t get rich or win a Nobel prize off this information. I’ve got Y10K to worry about between now and then, anyway.


18 posted on 03/15/2010 8:32:39 PM PDT by willgolfforfood
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To: Jet Jaguar

Beats me why y’all ain’t goin’ for *5* stars so’s ya can be generals....:)

“Commander Salamander”


19 posted on 03/15/2010 8:35:36 PM PDT by Salamander (....and I'm sure I need some rest but sleepin' don't come very easy in a straight white vest.......)
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To: razorback-bert

Don’t worry about it.

When an orange dwarf slams into our atmosphere, it’s gonna be a hot date for us ~all~....:)


20 posted on 03/15/2010 8:37:57 PM PDT by Salamander (....and I'm sure I need some rest but sleepin' don't come very easy in a straight white vest.......)
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