Asteroid 2004 FH

Spaceweather.com ^ | 3/18/2004 | NASA

[Orlando]

Newly-discovered asteroid 2004 FH is going to fly-by our planet TODAY, March 18th , 2200 GMT) 5:08 pm, est. only 43,000 km , which is only 26,500 miles from Earth.

[DefCon]

"...Without digging out Newton (and knowing what it's made of)..."
- - -
I think it is amazing that after all this time,
we still don't know what Newton was made of...

[jrlc]

"How can we BRIDGE this asteroid stuff to blame it on Bush?"

[TheyConvictedOglethorpe]

Scientists look forward to the flyby as it will provide them an unprecedented opportunity to study a small NEA asteroid up close.

If the scientists spent any time on Free Republic, they'd already know the NEA are a bunch of asteroids.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Quick, call Bruce Willis!

[blam]

Time to post this one again:

Did Asteroids And Comets Turn The Tides Of Civilization?

[ngc6656]

The moon is about 235,000 miles from Earth. That makes its orbit about 470,000 miles from one side to the other. 470,000 miles in 31 hours is 15,161 miles per hour !!!

That amounts to 4.2 miles per second. If it is that slow in its orbit around the Sun while in Earth's vicinity it should not be here, it should have already spiraled into the Sun. The writer of "31 hours to cross the Moon's orbit" (paraphrased) didn't provide us enough information. I suspect Earth is catching up to the asteroid as they independently travel around the Sun and that the asteroid's velocity in space is on the order of 14 miles per second.

[eno_]

And it also tells us our government really really cares about us.

Your ability to flee to possible safety means less than "maintaining order."

[fivecatsandadog]

Let's hope their calculations this time are correct..... last time the amateur astronomer got it right...

[eno_]

If we knew where an asteroid was going to collide, would you want to know in 24 hours in advance?

Why would you prefer it be kept secret?

[Peter J. Huss]

[eno_]

Hey, just because you would prefer to stick around and get blown up with a double nonfat latte in your hand doesn't mean I should not get the chance to hike out and dig a shelter.

[Petruchio]

Eat my crusty shorts.

Some of us understand that there is mo to life than politics.

[Peter J. Huss]

I am currently living in an underground shelter, 20 feet below the permafrost in northern Alberta. I have been here since Dec 20th, 1999. My supply of Raman Noodle is almost exhanused.

Is it OK to come out yet?

[Fury]

Noooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Petruchio]

Is 48 hours enough time to arm such an ABM interceptor (or ten) with an atomic warhead(s)?

Me thinks the resulting EMP would create total havoc down here.

[eno_]

Is it OK to come out yet?

Yes. Alberta has civil unions.

[Peter J. Huss]

Yes. Alberta has civil unions.

SQUEEEEELLLLL!

[bmwcyle]

Kerry believes or disbelieves the rock just passed earth if earth is really earth.

[stboz]

Does this thing have any trailers? Could be a spectacular light show.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

However, in reality there is not much we can do about one of these things. To be frank, and somewhat fatalistic, if it is going to hit, it is going to hit. I feel one has to prioritize their concerns. If I can't even remotely affect the outcome, then why worry about it.

We can send Bruce Willis to take care of it.