Giant asteroid possibly on collision course with Earth

[Steve Williams]

CNN


If astronomers are right, all life on this planet could be extinguished in less than 30 years from now. Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have detected a large object the size of Manhattan possibly on a collision course with Earth. Using their Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE), the 10-mile wide object was found approximately 51 million miles from Earth. Scientists believe that during a close encounter with Mars, the asteroid was nudged slightly off its usual orbit and may currently be on a high speed collision course with our fragile planet.

The asteroid is calculated to have a potentially lethal encounter with the Earth on March 35, 2041. Astronomers have placed the odds of an impact at 1 in 2.04, which is by far the most unprecedented risk ever faced to humanity, let alone from asteroids. Such an impact could potentially end civilization as we know it.

 

[BlueFox]

Well, that's just great. And on a Monday, no less. Time to get working again on space technology, and get to that sucker within 15 years, and change its course, into the sun!

 

[GaryProtein]

A one in two chance??

I don't think so. There is something wrong someplace, and not only the date of March 35th as stated in the original CNN article.

It seems like an April fools article.

 

[treitz3]

...Astronomers have placed the odds of an impact at 1 in 2.04...

If that were a fact, a true fact, I believe we would have every news agency in the world providing minute by minute coverage as to how to thwart this asteroid. Countries would be joining together, the world's greatest physicists, scientists and mathematicians would be gathering as we speak at the UN.....or at least something along those lines. A small article by CNN doesn't really seem credible. At least those are my immediate thoughts.

Tom

 

[DaveyF]

If that were a fact, a true fact, I believe we would have every news agency in the world providing minute by minute coverage as to how to thwart this asteroid. Countries would be joining together, the world's greatest physicists, scientists and mathematicians would be gathering as we speak at the UN.....or at least something along those lines. A small article by CNN doesn't really seem credible. At least those are my immediate thoughts.

Tom

Unless, you wanted to avoid the possibility of world wide panic. OTOH,does seem to be a little "suspicious"....what's 1 in 2.04??? That's a VERY precise number, LOL.

 

[DonH50]

Quick Google first found a UK article from 1970 (!) and a bunch more artcles from ca. 2006. CNN appears top be backtracking and checking out the article... Nothing obvious on the JPL asteroid watch site at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroidwatch/ and nothing on the Sentry Risk table on that site. For now, I'd take the report with a block of salt...

 

[treitz3]

I hear ya' DaveyF. One would think that if they didn't want to cause worldwide panic, they wouldn't release the information at all until some kind of plan was in place. Those ARE rather precise odds. Even if the asteroid misses us on the 1.04 chance, the close proximity could knock the Earth and/or moon off it's orbit(s), possibly sending the currently steady solar system into complete chaos. Even if it missed the Earth and got the moon, humankind would be in a whole heap of trouble.

I'll raise you to a pallet of salt DonH50.

Tom

 

[mep]

They still won't tell us about all of the aliens that have visited this planet because they don't think people can handle the truth. Why talk about a meteor that is 30 years away from us? I just checked Snopes and it's not showing up there.

 

[GaryProtein]

They still won't tell us about all of the aliens that have visited this planet. . . .

Well, that's just great. And on a Monday, no less. . . .

That's hilarious!

 

[cjfrbw]

Guess I'll cancel that nursing home insurance policy.

 

[ack]

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1137095?ref=feeds/latest

CNN PRODUCER NOTE NASA has confirmed via email that this story is false. A spokewoman for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory says that the largest object detected by NEOWISE measures 3 km in diameter and poses no risk to Earth. The iReport has been removed.
- davidw, CNN iReport producer

Basically, what this means is that there is more time for interpersonal threats on WBF

 

[Steve Williams]

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1137095?ref=feeds/latest

CNN PRODUCER NOTE NASA has confirmed via email that this story is false. A spokewoman for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory says that the largest object detected by NEOWISE measures 3 km in diameter and poses no risk to Earth. The iReport has been removed.
- davidw, CNN iReport producer

I think the March 35 date was the give away

 

[ack]

I think the March 35 date was the give away

Yeah I started laughing when I saw it

 

[DonH50]

I heard from a reliable anonymous source that the largest solar flare ever recorded will occur the second Tuesday of next week and will wipe out all land- and space-based power systems. You will be safe in a submarine.

 

[Bodhi]

Well I guess i've got plenty of time to stock up on Tequila and Bach before sitting in a field and waiting for oblivion

 

[zztop7]

I heard from a reliable anonymous source that the largest solar flare ever recorded will occur the second Tuesday of next week and will wipe out all land- and space-based power systems. You will be safe in a submarine.

Paul Allen should be in good shape ...........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

zz.