Skip to comments.
Asteroid passes just 8,700miles from Earth - with only 15 hours warning
dailymail.co.uk ^
| Nov. 10, 2009
| Claire Bates
Posted on 11/10/2009 11:26:06 AM PST by Free ThinkerNY
Although no one noticed at the time, the Earth was almost hit by an asteroid last Friday.
The previously undiscovered asteroid came within 8,700miles of Earth but astronomers noticed it only 15 hours before it made its closest approach.
To put it in perspective the Moon is a distance of 250,000miles, which is nearly 30 times further away from our planet. But before you head for the nuclear bunkers you will be relieved to learn the tumbling rock was only 23ft across. Similar sized objects pass by this close to Earth about twice a year and impact on the planet about once every five years.
Astronomers believe the object, called 2009 VA, would have almost completely burned up while entering Earth's atmosphere, causing a brilliant fireball in the sky but no major damage to the surface.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: asteroid; catastrophism; earth
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-49 next last
To: Free ThinkerNY
2
posted on
11/10/2009 11:27:30 AM PST
by
Perdogg
(Sarah Palin-Jim DeMint 2012 - Liz Cheney for Sec of State - Duncan Hunter SecDef)
To: Free ThinkerNY; Slings and Arrows
Will fewer SUVs decrease the number of astroids hitting the Earth?
3
posted on
11/10/2009 11:29:03 AM PST
by
a fool in paradise
(I refuse to "reduce my carbon footprint" all while Lenin remains in an airconditioned shrine)
To: Free ThinkerNY
A six meter wide asteroid that passed well within the Clarke belt of geosynch sats.
4
posted on
11/10/2009 11:29:14 AM PST
by
Darksheare
(Tar is cheap, and feathers are plentiful.)
To: Free ThinkerNY
Remember that in August of this year a ruling came down that all incoming space rocks are considered as “Classified Information”.
To: Free ThinkerNY
Did he just call us an Ass-droid???
6
posted on
11/10/2009 11:30:46 AM PST
by
IrishPennant
(“If you can accept losing, you can't win.” ~ Vince Lombardi)
To: Perdogg
How big does an asteroid ... yes I know there are rocky (solid) ones and not so solid ones ... but how large does an asteroid have to be in order not to burn up in the atmosphere and therefore cause some significant damage ?
7
posted on
11/10/2009 11:31:36 AM PST
by
clamper1797
(Would you hold my hand ... If I saw you in heaven ... to my angel in heaven)
To: Free ThinkerNY
That was the one I prayed for to hit Congress on Saturday!
It was CLOSE, but no cigar!
To: IrishPennant
“I don’t know but my snorkel hose is plugged again.”
9
posted on
11/10/2009 11:33:34 AM PST
by
Secret Agent Man
(I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
To: Free ThinkerNY
we're doooooomed!!!
or
nuke it from orbit. it's the only way to be sure.
10
posted on
11/10/2009 11:33:55 AM PST
by
thefactor
(yes, as a matter of fact, i DID only read the excerpt)
To: clamper1797
It probably has to do with how much enthropy it can absorb.
11
posted on
11/10/2009 11:33:58 AM PST
by
Perdogg
(Sarah Palin-Jim DeMint 2012 - Liz Cheney for Sec of State - Duncan Hunter SecDef)
To: Free ThinkerNY
Obama was out playing golf and thus missed the event.
12
posted on
11/10/2009 11:35:20 AM PST
by
OrioleFan
(Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July, democrats believe every day is April 15)
To: RebelTXRose
That was the one I prayed for to hit Congress on Saturday! Louis Farrakhan almost crashed the Mother Ship...
13
posted on
11/10/2009 11:42:09 AM PST
by
a fool in paradise
(I refuse to "reduce my carbon footprint" all while Lenin remains in an airconditioned shrine)
To: OrioleFan
Obama was out playing golf and thus missed the event. If an event occurs and Obama misses it, did it really happen?
14
posted on
11/10/2009 11:43:01 AM PST
by
a fool in paradise
(I refuse to "reduce my carbon footprint" all while Lenin remains in an airconditioned shrine)
To: Perdogg
Obama saved us!
15
posted on
11/10/2009 11:44:09 AM PST
by
Frantzie
(Judge David Carter - democrat & dishonorable Marine like John Murtha.)
To: Free ThinkerNY
An asteroid or meteor (don’t know which) hit in the Atlanta area a few years back. It was the size of a lunchbox, and sounded like someone put off a bomb on the other side of the street. It hit 65 miles away. I can only imagine one 23ft across!
16
posted on
11/10/2009 11:45:51 AM PST
by
autumnraine
(You can't fix stupid, but you can vote it out!)
To: NorwegianViking
That isn’t accurate. The government took away scientific access to the nuclear warning satellites that also tracked meteor and asteroid impacts in the atmosphere.
It’s more likely that it was done because the satellite net is becoming older and scientific access may point out significant shortcomings in our ability to spot things.
To: clamper1797
Probably on the order of meters, depending on material.
18
posted on
11/10/2009 11:50:41 AM PST
by
rahbert
To: Free ThinkerNY
To put it in perspective the Moon is a distance of 250,000miles, which is nearly 30 times further away from our planet.I can't believe the idiots who write this stuff.
A much better and undestandable comparison would be geosynchronous satellites, satellite TV, which are three times as far...
19
posted on
11/10/2009 11:51:19 AM PST
by
Publius6961
(Â…he's not America, he's an employee who hasn't risen to minimal expectations.)
To: clamper1797
but how large does an asteroid have to be in order not to burn up in the atmosphere and therefore cause some significant damage ?It's not the size that determines that, so much as the angle of entry.
20
posted on
11/10/2009 11:54:09 AM PST
by
Publius6961
(Â…he's not America, he's an employee who hasn't risen to minimal expectations.)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-49 next last
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.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson