Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Close Call with Asteroid 2006 XG1 in 2041

Posted on 12/27/2006 11:40:51 PM PST by LibWhacker

I don’t want to get you worried, or even mildly concerned. No need to panic. In fact, just read this little piece, and remark with interest that an asteroid is going to get really really close to the Earth on October 31, 2041. It might - I repeat might - have a small, insignificant chance of hitting the Earth and causing regional devastation. Like a 1 in 40,000 chance. Those are pretty good odds when you think of it.

Still not panicking? Good.

The asteroid in question is called 2006 XG1. It was discovered on September 20, 2006 by the University of Arizona’s Catalina Sky Survey, which surveys the observable sky to search for Near Earth Objects (NEOs); asteroids whose orbits interact with the Earth, and may impact with us in the future.

The object wasn’t originally considered a risk, but followup observations raised the chances to a 1 on the Torino Impact scale.

Here’s what the Torino Scale has to say about level 1 objects:

A routine discovery in which a pass near the Earth is predicted that poses no unusual level of danger. Current calculations show the chance of collision is extremely unlikely with no cause for public attention or public concern. New telescopic observations very likely will lead to re-assignment to Level 0.

There are currently only two objects on the Torino Scale with a risk higher than 0: 1950 DA, and now 2006 XG1. Here’s the interesting thing, though. The threat specifically from 2006 XG1 is still only one-tenth the background level we face from collisions all the time.

2006 XG1 is estimated to measure between 600 and 1,400 metres (.4 to .8 miles) across. For NEOs, that’s actually pretty large. If an asteroid that big were to hit the Earth, it would release the energy equivalent of 1700 megatons of TNT and cause regional scale devastation.

Although it could hit us, the most likely estimate guesses that 2006 XG1 will pass by on October 31, 2041 at a distance of only 5,000 km (3,100 miles). Consider that the Moon is about 385,000 km away. Whatever happens, it’ll be a close call.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 1950da; 2006xg1; 2041; artbell; asteroid; eotwawki; neo; theendisnear
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-65 next last

1 posted on 12/27/2006 11:40:54 PM PST by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
bush's fault. but only if it hits us.

should be a nice little show. i'll be in my 60's so i'll be ready to go if need be.

2 posted on 12/27/2006 11:43:38 PM PST by thefactor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

Wasn't there some talk fairly recently about trying to hit an asteroid with something hard enough to hit it off course?


3 posted on 12/27/2006 11:45:01 PM PST by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

I'm really going to worry that it could blow up my grave.


4 posted on 12/27/2006 11:46:18 PM PST by taxesareforever (Never forget Matt Maupin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: thefactor

34 years from now I "will" be 90.


5 posted on 12/27/2006 11:46:46 PM PST by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

Hitting on Halloween? Maybe its the ghosts of ancestors returning


6 posted on 12/27/2006 11:47:18 PM PST by Gothmog (John Edwards has pretty hair but terrible timing)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

Gee. If there is a 1 in 40,000 chance of it hitting earth, that means there's a one in 40,000 chance of each person being killed. With 6 billion people, the chances of at least ONE of us being killed by this asteroid is pretty much certain.


:-)


7 posted on 12/27/2006 11:48:14 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

At 81 would I care?


8 posted on 12/27/2006 11:48:23 PM PST by Dallas59 (HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sageb1

Yes. It has to be the right kind of asteroid though. Apparently, it wouldn't work with a "rubble pile."


9 posted on 12/27/2006 11:49:16 PM PST by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
Still not panicking? Good.

Whew!
10 posted on 12/27/2006 11:49:42 PM PST by kinoxi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: taxesareforever

I was wondering how to have my ashes scattered... problem solved!


11 posted on 12/27/2006 11:53:00 PM PST by clilly54
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
What are the chances of hitting the moon?

3100 miles is less than half the diameter of the earth. That's close.

It is hard to believe they can calculate its projected path that accurately.
12 posted on 12/27/2006 11:55:54 PM PST by DB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
We're in deep doo doo. Bruce Willis will be too old to get us out of this one.
13 posted on 12/28/2006 12:05:35 AM PST by fish hawk (. B O stinks.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

14 posted on 12/28/2006 12:12:44 AM PST by Slings and Arrows (Tell Tom Vilsack to WEAR THE BEAR!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DB

Earth orbits around the sun at 18.6 miles per second. 3100 miles divided by 18.6 miles per second is 167 seconds! They calculated that in 35 years we'll miss it by less than 3 minutes! (assuming it crosses our orbit in front of or behind us, and not above or below)


15 posted on 12/28/2006 12:21:24 AM PST by idkfa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
The real question is,
where will the moon be at this specific point of impact?

The moon has protected the Earth for over 2-Billion years, "YET"
nobody ever mentions the moon as it's own gravity force.

The moon causes earthquakes and all kinds of ocean occurrences
around the globe. Yet, no mention at all.

Take note Viro-Wackos.

16 posted on 12/28/2006 12:26:14 AM PST by MaxMax (God Bless America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

I'll probably be hacking up a lung or worried about leakage by then.


17 posted on 12/28/2006 12:27:07 AM PST by zarf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: clilly54

LOL! And that could be called "Ashes to Asteroid".


18 posted on 12/28/2006 12:27:17 AM PST by taxesareforever (Never forget Matt Maupin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: idkfa

That's 0.0000151%...


19 posted on 12/28/2006 12:30:04 AM PST by DB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: MaxMax
The moon has protected the Earth for over 2-Billion years,

LIES!

20 posted on 12/28/2006 12:30:06 AM PST by Slings and Arrows (Tell Tom Vilsack to WEAR THE BEAR!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-65 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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson