Posted on 08/12/2017 8:21:52 AM PDT by MtnClimber
Every object in our Solar System that takes the plunge from out beyond Neptune to our inner reaches, where the rocky planets lie, will become a comet. As it nears the Sun, its ices melt, creating the tails we associate with them, and also creating a debris path that can create meteor showers if they cross Earth's orbit. For thousands of years, the most consistent, spectacular meteor shower has been the Perseids, created by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
At its incredibly large size (26 kilometers across) and speed, it contains nearly 30 times the energy of the asteroid strike that wiped out the dinosaurs. Over the next few thousand years, it will come perilously close to Earth. If Jupiter — which it also passes by — gives it just the slightest gravitational kick, it could be flung into the Sun, ejected from the Solar System, or hurtled directly into our world. If this were to happen, and it's a real possibility some 2400 years from now, it would mark the largest mass extinction our world has seen in hundreds of millions of years.
Every August, the Perseid meteor shower delights skywatchers everywhere. While some years it's a disappointment, either being washed out by a bright Moon or delivering a relatively sparse stream of particles for Earth to collide with, other years the show is spectacular. This year, the waning gibbous Moon will wash out about half the meteors, making the best time to view it just after sunset, before the Moon rises.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
I have begun to not post articles from this author, but decided to hold my nose and post this one.
An end to humanity? Maybe. But then again, maybe not.
Sweet.
“...and it’s a real possibility some 2400 years from now, it would mark the largest mass extinction our world has seen in hundreds of millions of years.”
TRUMP’S FAULT!
Fer Pete’s Sake - they can’t predict the WEATHER with any accuracy for more than a day out! I’m certainly NOT going to lose sleep over what MAY BE happening in space 2,400 YEARS from now.
Anyway, I won’t know anybody.
Or not.
” it could be flung into the Sun, ejected from the Solar System, or hurtled directly into our world. If this were to happen, and it’s a real possibility some 2400 years from now, it would mark the largest mass extinction our world has seen in hundreds of millions of years. “
He has no idea what will happen but labels it a ‘real possibility’!
You should have not held your nose.
I can’t wait...LITERALLY!
Good news!
We no longer need to worry about Gorebull Warming, saving the earth and becoming non meat eaters.
Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle will take care of everything and everybody.
women and minorities hardest hit
I’m ready.
We Had a Good run...
A giant asteroid striking the sun, now that would
be something to see. I’d trade my Pan-galactic google
blaster for something like that, that’s real hard Rock!
good! its about time!
its so discouraging that all these damned Destruction Day comets keep wimping out on us and fail to do the job
How could anything get close enough to hit the Sun? Wouldn’t anything (a big old rock, a planet-sized whatever, a Rocket Ship, a Mini Van?) burn up well before it could hit it?
But, yes - that WOULD put the upcoming Solar Eclipse to shame - and then, that would be All She Wrote for us! :)
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.