Posted on 01/04/2017 2:50:43 PM PST by BenLurkin
NASA recently spotted two massive space objects hurtling towards Earth.
While the American space agency has pinpointed one as a comet, the other has left it slightly more baffled.
The comet is set to fly close to Earth this week, but the mystery object isn't expected to make an appearance until February.
The object, dubbed "2016 WF9", was detected by NASA's asteroid- and comet-hunting NEOWISE project on 27 November 2016.
It is roughly 0.3 to 0.6 miles (0.5 to 1 kilometres) across and is in an orbit that takes it on a scenic tour of our solar system.
At its farthest distance from the sun, it approaches Jupiter's orbit.
Over the course of 4.9 Earth-years, it travels inward, passing under the main asteroid belt and the orbit of Mars until it swings just inside Earth's own orbit.
After that, it heads back toward the outer solar system.
(Excerpt) Read more at mirror.co.uk ...
How good are we tracking these things? Is it possible to know for certain?
Yes.
Not very, but getting better.
No.
There used to be an excellent long range tracking system in the US...but older technology...Obama had it shut down.
was tracking space junk and space rocks.
Wormwood?
[A meteor has just landed right by Paul and Kathy.]
Kathy: Paul, are you alright? What happened?
Servo: She gets off the ground saying, “What happened?” a lot.
(mystery science theater 3000)
Only Doctor Hans Zarkhov, formerly at NASA, has provided any explanation.
Thank you!
It is traveling in a direction that will take it near earth's orbit. There is one, maybe two fractions of time, in 356.25 days where it may actually "hurtle towards earth" and it will miss earth by 32 million miles.
That isn't as dramatic as the overly sensational news headline makes it sound.
Think maybe he could hook me up with Princess Aura?
After that, it heads back toward the outer solar system.
Both of those statements can't be true. Either its orbit takes it almost to Jupiter or to the outer solar system. Not both.
Trump a-ah
Savior of the Universe
Trump a-ah
He’ll save every one of us
(Seemingly there is no reason for these extraordinary intergalactical upsets)
(Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha)
(What’s happening Trump?)
(Only Doctor Hans Zarkhov, formerly at NASA, has provided any explanation)
Trump a-ah
He’s a miracle
...
Trump a-ah
King of the impossible
He’s for every one of us
Stand for every one of us
He save with a mighty hand
Every man, every woman
Every child,
with a mighty... Tweet
...could be an asteroid or a comet.
Curiously, the writer of that “ge<’ of a song, Dr. Brian May, (Queen guitar player and Ph.D. in astrophysics) is one of the co-founders of a group of concerned scientists called Asteroid Day.org
This group was set up to increase public consciousness of the danger of asteroids that could collide with the earth, and advocate for a concerted scientific effort to locate and track more of the potential threats. They claim that 99% of the potential threats are undetected. Numerous prominent scientists and former astronauts have endorsed this project.
typo correction: writer of that “gem” of a song
Great. The second person who knows about this basically is saying we could get clocked at anytime. :)
Better keep my umbrella out.
Plan 9.
From Outer Space.
Sweet Meteor of Death.
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.
