Posted on 10/12/2012 11:57:38 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
An asteroid the size of a house will buzz Earth today (Oct. 12) but poses no risk of hitting our planet, scientists say.
The asteroid 2012 TC4 will pass Earth at a range of just 59,000 miles (95,000 kilometers) about one-fourth the distance to the moon when it makes its closest point today, NASA scientists said. The asteroid was discovered by astronomers on Oct. 4 and is about 56 feet (17 meters) across.
"Small asteroid 2012 TC4 will safely pass Earth Oct 12 at just .25 the distance to our moon's orbit," scientists with NASA's Asteroid Watch program wrote in a Twitter update this week. On average, the moon's orbit is about 238,000 miles (383,000 km).
The asteroid is large enough to be seen by backyard astronomers using a small telescope, the night sky events website Spaceweather.com has reported.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I think all the deep space guys got purged .. or sumthin’ :-}
If it landed at 21°25′0″N 39°49′0″E, it would make my day...
I turn 64 at the end of this month .... so I completely agree. ;>)
I am not in a hurry to get ‘there’, but I look forward to the changes.
If it was size of a house when it hit the earth. I'm guessing that most of it would have burned up when it entered our atmosphere. The article did say that it was too small to pose a risk to the earth, so I'm guessing what would have remained might have made a neat little crater but wouldn't have any major effects (unless you were standing at ground zero).
Yes, but it wouldn't have to destroy Earth to ruin your day. Who knows how much would even reach Earth after passing through Earth's atmosphere? Depends on so many different things: composition, angle of entry, speed, etc.
Only a chunk about 150 feet across survived entry (about half burned up in the atmosphere during entry) 50,000 years ago to blast out Meteor Crater in Arizona. That little remaining piece created a hole three-quarters of a mile wide and 1,000 feet deep, which then was partially refilled immediately by the rubble. Imagine that landing in Central Park. Someone wouldn't need their alarm clock that morning!
It’s ok it would evaporate anyway but as long as the story distracts from the terrible economy and the election then NASA will be happy. NASA another government agency faking crap to get Obama elected. your tax dollars being stolen for advancement of socialism
Its ok it would evaporate anyway but as long as the story distracts from the terrible economy and the election then NASA will be happy. NASA another government agency faking crap to get Obama elected. your tax dollars being stolen for advancement of socialism
If there is any justice in this world, it will land on Nancy Pelosi and all you’ll see is her nasty feet sticking out from under it.
I just wanna see the thing coming. What a way to go out!
You want us to believe that one corrupt idiotic, leftist, government bureaucrat can run 1000 businesses better than 1000 busisness owners can at the same time and with someone else;s money (the bureaucrat uses tax payer money not it's own), you want us to believe that?
It's pretty clear from your post that someone has an agenda. I'm not sure it's NASA, though.
Odds are it would hit in the ocean.
Creating a tsunami far larger than anything in recorded history!
Have fun.
The problem is, you've jumped to so many invalid conclusions, it's mind boggling. Just look:
You support NASA a government agency,WHERE did I say that??? I can guarantee you I'm a bigger critic of NASA than you are. If there's a difference, it is because I try to criticize them for valid reasons.you trust government and global warmingAbsolutely without any basis whatsoever... WTF are you talking about??? I have an inherent and intense distrust of government. And why are you bringing up global warming? No one said anything about global warming. I've said many times right here on FR that I think it's one of the biggest hoaxes of the 20th, and now the 21st, Century. Man, you're like the angry little monkey at the zoo, slinging his feces at anyone within range, hoping it'll hit someone -- you don't care whether he's an innocent person or not.here's a clueI know who needs a clue and it isn't me.goverment(socialism)No, government and socialism aren't the same thing. The Founders gave us a government. Do you seriously believe they were trying to foist socialism on us?big government leads to tyranny okMaybe one of the only things you got right.You want us to believe that one corrupt idiotic, leftist, government bureaucrat can run 1000 businesses better than 1000 busisness owners can at the same time and with someone else;s moneyI said absolutely nothing of the kind. I don't even believe it. In fact, I believe just the opposite of it. I didn't imply it either. You're just pulling monkey crap out of a dark recess on your body that I can't mention and flinging it in every possible direction in the hopes that I'll be standing there.Now, here are some clues for you. Science is not bad. Science is good. This asteroid really exists and it missed Earth by a pretty narrow margin today. It's news. It may not interest you, but it is news and it interests some of the most conservative Freepers out there.
Always try to frame your arguments in such a way that it reflects well on FR. Especially with the election so near. We're trying to win hearts and minds here. We must be serious and win this election next month. So we have to resist going for the cheap laugh just because we can, and just because we're fed up with their nonsense and don't believe liberal arguments deserve serious consideration. Believe me, I know the feeling and have been known to throw out some flip answers myself. The fence sitters are out there and they're trying to decide who makes the best arguments. I think you'll agree, today wasn't one of your best efforts. You can do better. Cheers!
Cool site, Thanks!
Thanks LibWhacker, FFF alert.
I heard an interesting report today about recently fallen Mars rocks that are being studied by scientists, Morocco I think. Described scientists arriving at the scene with dozens of locals roaming around looking for fragments which they have learned have a good market. Scientists have ended up with several pieces and are confirming information that is coming from the current Mars exploration vehicle. Meteors were apparently caused by a big boloid strike on Mars that threw fragments into the air that have recently arrived and fallen on earth.
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