Hum Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Not to alarm you, but Russian scientists estimate Earth will be hit by an asteroid on April 13, 2036. Should we start packing our bags now? And where would we go? In 2004, NASA suggested the possibility that the asteroid called Apophis, bigger than two football fields, might collide with our planet in 2029. Further computations changed their minds about that prediction. And now, Russian figures give us a new date for a possible encounter with the giant rock from space. "Technically, they're correct -- there is a chance in 2036" that Apophis will hit Earth, Donald Yeomans, head of NASA's Near Earth Object Program. But Yeomans added that the odds of this happening are only 1 in 250,000. Last month, Leonid Sokolov of Russia's St. Petersburg State University announced that "Apophis will approach Earth at a distance of 37,000 to 38,000 kilometers on April 13, 2029. Its likely collision with Earth may occur on April 13, 2036." But Sokolov also conceded that a 2036 collision was unlikely because scientists should be able to figure out a way to prevent it. more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ci7 Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 oh god we would barely get to pass 2012 >.> now "ZOMG! the world gonna end in 2029 why bother do any good ,let just eat more fastfood!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost5525 Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 So when does the production of "2036" start :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaffra Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Earths satellite defense network should be operational by then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digitalx Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 well didn't take Russians very long to detonate the largest nuclear bomb in history surely in hand with Americans they could vaporise it easily from a distance with a modified ICBM. Russian OTT bombs with American precision would be cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StBlockley Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 No. It almost certainly will not hit the Earth; the odds that give it the closest chance for hitting Earth are 1 in 135,000. Other estimates make it even less likely. And even if it did, it wouldn't be apocalyptic and planet destroying - merely very bad for wherever it did hit. Enough of this ludicrous doomsday nonsense. Source: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/02/09/media-fail-again-huffpo-and-apophis-edition/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebor Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 APOPHIS??! Send in Jack O'Neill (thats two L's, theres another with one L but he doesn't have a sense of humour) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StBlockley Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 APOPHIS??! Send in Jack O'Neill (thats two L's, theres another with one L but he doesn't have a sense of humour) You are my hero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 Shoot large rocks at it :shifty: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick H. Supervisor Posted February 11, 2011 Supervisor Share Posted February 11, 2011 No. It almost certainly will not hit the Earth; the odds that give it the closest chance for hitting Earth are 1 in 135,000. Other estimates make it even less likely. And even if it did, it wouldn't be apocalyptic and planet destroying - merely very bad for wherever it did hit. Enough of this ludicrous doomsday nonsense. Source: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/02/09/media-fail-again-huffpo-and-apophis-edition/ Hear, hear! A load of rubbish if you ask me. We're just looking for ways to scare humanity, and there are enough reasons to be scared without this whole 2012/2013/2014/2015...2036 nonsense. That said, I'm still working on an idea for the most awesome way to deal with impending doom, should it happen. I've got as far as "I'll need a cricket bat." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brentaal Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 The guy who reported that story (Lee Speigel) is a nutjob, or in his own words - 'UFO and paranormal expert'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Ferson Veteran Posted February 11, 2011 Veteran Share Posted February 11, 2011 I'm going to say it's unlikely at best. Apophis is an awesome name though, and if I hadn't already established my Gamertag I'd almost consider changing to it as a joke. If it happens, will it be that vast a collision? At the size of two football fields, it wouldn't make a massive mark on a city. I'm thinking of London, but I'm sure other cities provide even better comparisons. Even if it does enter earth, there's a chance that it'll hit one of the many vast expansions of ocean. If it did that, surely it wouldn't be a threat or could it cause tsunamis and tidal waves? I like the idea posted above about one of those epic Russian missiles (I believe it was the Tsar Bomb?) being used to annihilate the asteroid: footage of that would be amazing to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Decryptor Veteran Posted February 11, 2011 Veteran Share Posted February 11, 2011 Shooting a missile at it isn't going to do a damn thing, nuclear bombs behave differently in space than they do on the ground (We've detonated nuclear bombs in low earth orbit, apart from a light show, some power failures and some damaged satellites, nothing else happened). Even then, the actual Asteroid itself is very small, it's only 270m across. And after all that, odds of it actually hitting are between 1 in 135,000 to 1 in 250,000, so they're very low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unix2 Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I saw on tv about a device similar to a misil that will allow once it hit an asteroid to change its trayectory. If scientist are testing this now, by 2036 the technology will be eve more sophisticated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Ferson Veteran Posted February 11, 2011 Veteran Share Posted February 11, 2011 Even then, the actual Asteroid itself is very small, it's only 270m across. And after all that, odds of it actually hitting are between 1 in 135,000 to 1 in 250,000, so they're very low. In that case then, it shouldn't be a very big threat. It's probably going to be hyped up like 2012 was when it grows closer to the date, assuming that this information doesn't just disappear in the future. Though it likely will, due to the fact it doesn't seem to be a major spectacle, and most people won't know about it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mps69 Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Strap Chuck Norris to the front of the Challenger shuttles, he'd kick that things ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebor Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Shooting a missile at it isn't going to do a damn thing, nuclear bombs behave differently in space than they do on the ground (We've detonated nuclear bombs in low earth orbit, apart from a light show, some power failures and some damaged satellites, nothing else happened). Even then, the actual Asteroid itself is very small, it's only 270m across. And after all that, odds of it actually hitting are between 1 in 135,000 to 1 in 250,000, so they're very low. The odds are still higher than me winning the lottery :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unix2 Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 How to deflect an Asteroid: http://www.universetoday.com/75816/how-to-deflect-an-asteroid-with-today%E2%80%99s-technology/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digitalx Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Shooting a missile at it isn't going to do a damn thing, nuclear bombs behave differently in space than they do on the ground (We've detonated nuclear bombs in low earth orbit, apart from a light show, some power failures and some damaged satellites, nothing else happened). Even then, the actual Asteroid itself is very small, it's only 270m across. And after all that, odds of it actually hitting are between 1 in 135,000 to 1 in 250,000, so they're very low. It was a bit of a joke lol obviously old style nuclear bomb in space wouldn't really work ... only if it was precisely hit within our atmosphere would it have an effect of breaking up but would cause a lot of fall out due to size it would need to be. But if it came down to using a weapon against it, it would more then likely be a concentrated laser or rail gun of sorts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.Neo Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Even then, the actual Asteroid itself is very small, it's only 270m across. That's enough to wipe out an entire country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mokthraka Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 That's enough to wipe out an entire country. Exactly. It's traveling through space at 30 km/s. It would slow down once it hit earths atmosphere. But not to the point of what people are saying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteWhite Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Where's Harry Stamper when you need him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Derf Veteran Posted February 11, 2011 Veteran Share Posted February 11, 2011 When standing next to an ancient obelisk of unknown origin, the key to entering the obelisk to activating the tractor beam that will deflect the asteroid and save the planet is "Kirk to Enterprise". p.s. While under the effects of amnesia, you also get to have sex with a sexy Native American woman. So, bonus all around... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mirumir Subscriber¹ Posted February 11, 2011 Subscriber¹ Share Posted February 11, 2011 So when does the production of "2036" start :p It was already filmed in 1998 - called Armageddon :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PyX Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 So when does the production of "2036" start :p Done, done and done. Just watch Armageddon. Edit : I didn’t read the messages of the thread at all. But I just noticed that the person above me beat me to it. I officially hate you, zhiVago. And shame on me. At least this is more credible than 2012. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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