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Matt
07-24-2002, 2:12am
An asteroid discovered just weeks ago has become the most threatening object yet detected in space. A preliminary orbit suggests that 2002 NT7 is on an impact course with Earth and could strike the planet on 1 February, 2019 - although the uncertainties are large.

Astronomers have given the object a rating on the so-called Palermo technical scale of threat of 0.06, making NT7 the first object to be given a positive value.

From its brightness, astronomers estimate it is about two kilometres wide, large enough to cause continent-wide devastation on Earth.

Many observations

Although astronomers say the object definitely merits attention, they expect more observations to show it is not on an Earth-intersecting trajectory.

It was first seen on the night of 5 July, picked up by the Linear Observatory's automated sky survey programme in New Mexico, US.

Since then astronomers worldwide have been paying close attention to it, amassing almost 200 observations in a few weeks.

Dr Benny Peiser, of Liverpool John Moores University in the UK, told BBC News Online that "this asteroid has now become the most threatening object in the short history of asteroid detection".

NT7 circles the Sun every 837 days and travels in a tilted orbit from about the distance of Mars to just within the Earth's orbit.

Potential devastation

Detailed calculations of NT7's orbit suggest many occasions when its projected path through space intersects the Earth's orbit.

Researchers estimate that on 1 February, 2019, its impact velocity on the Earth would be 28 km a second - enough to wipe out a continent and cause global climate changes.

However, Dr Peiser was keen to point out that future observations could change the situation.

He said: "This unique event should not diminish the fact that additional observations in coming weeks will almost certainly - we hope - eliminate the current threat."

Easily observable

According to astronomers, NT7 will be easily observable for the next 18 months or so, meaning there is no risk of losing the object.

Observations made over that period - and the fact that NT7 is bright enough that it is bound to show up in old photographs - mean that scientists will soon have a very precise orbit for the object.

Dr Donald Yeomans, of the US space agency's (Nasa) Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, told BBC News Online: "The orbit of this object is rather highly inclined to the Earth's orbit so it has been missed because until recently observers were not looking for such objects in that region of space."

Regarding the possibility of an impact, Dr Yeomans said the uncertainties were large.

"The error in our knowledge of where NT7 will be on 1 February, 2019, is large, several tens of millions of kilometres," he said.

Dr Yeomans said the world would have to get used to finding more objects like NT7 that, on discovery, look threatening, but then become harmless.

"This is because the problem of Near-Earth Objects is now being properly addressed," he said.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2147879.stm
aFinn
07-24-2002, 2:19am
:nervous: What a coincidence. I just watched Armageddon... :nervous:
Matt
07-24-2002, 2:21am
Originally posted by aFinn
:nervous: What a coincidence. I just watched Armageddon... :nervous:
:funny: Good timing.
ShaniaLookAlike
07-24-2002, 2:21am
Omg, it's Armageddon all over again! :p

Most asteroids burn up while going through the earth's atmoshpere, but if this one is very large. . . it could make it through. :smirk:

This is how they say the Dinosaurs died, from an asteroid hitting the earth. When the asteroid hit earth the dust blocked out the sun and all the vegetation died. . resulting in the deaths of all living things. :sad:

Hopefully our billions of dollars that we all give to NASA will come in handy one day huh? :p
Curti
07-24-2002, 3:52am
:nervous: only 17 more years to live ahhhhhhhhhh :nervous:
Marine
07-24-2002, 4:29am
Looks like we're gonna go bye-bye.
Longshot
07-24-2002, 6:59am
Oh well, nice knowing ya..

*Goes to duck and cover*...

What do you mean, hiding under a blanket wont protect me? It was good enough to protect people from a nuclear attack in the 50's! :funny::p
Eilsel
07-24-2002, 10:25am
Well that sucks. Hopefully it'll decide to go somewhere else.:p
SHANIANUTS!
07-24-2002, 10:52am
Looks like someone is trying to justify their budget for the next 20 years!
aFinn
07-24-2002, 12:15pm
Originally posted by ShaniaLookAlike
Omg, it's Armageddon all over again!
But whoīs gonna save us now when Bruce Willis was killed in the last asteroid?
:funny:
Logan
07-24-2002, 12:18pm
Heh... 17 years is good enough for me :p

-Vega-
aFinn
07-24-2002, 12:28pm
Originally posted by Vega
Heh... 17 years is good enough for me :p

-Vega- Wouldnīt it be terrible to know when you die? All decisions we would make would come under the knowledge of that. I would not want that hanging over my head (!)
Logan
07-24-2002, 12:45pm
That is true, but you've also live your life to the fullest :)
None of us are gonna' live forever, so we ought to appreciate every day that we've got.

-Vega-
aFinn
07-24-2002, 12:52pm
Originally posted by Vega
That is true, but you've also live your life to the fullest :)
None of us are gonna' live forever, so we ought to appreciate every day that we've got.

-Vega- Yes, certainly, but what I meant that if you know when you die, you would do things you would not normally do cause you would think or fear the consequences (sp?). Now that would be scary!
Logan
07-24-2002, 12:54pm
And exciting at the same time ;)

-Vega-
aFinn
07-24-2002, 12:57pm
Originally posted by Vega
And exciting at the same time ;)

-Vega-
Oh, you are the optimist :) and I am the pessimist :sad:

I was thinking about murdering and robbering, and you were talking about the wonderful exciting courageous things.

I am ashamed.
Logan
07-24-2002, 12:59pm
Oh, I WAS talking about good things, nothing like what you had in mind! :)

-Vega-
aFinn
07-24-2002, 1:02pm
Originally posted by Vega
Oh, I WAS talking about good things Raul, always stay this positive :) And you will have a happy life :)
Logan
07-24-2002, 1:05pm
Well, I am positive most of the time. I had my times when I put my black-glasses on, but I go with the Elton John look most of the time :p

-Vega-
Logan
07-24-2002, 1:06pm
That was a joke, Btw ;)
No pink glasses over here :D

-Vega-
aFinn
07-24-2002, 1:09pm
Originally posted by Vega
That was a joke, Btw ;)
No pink glasses over here :D

-Vega-
HAHAHA! Again with the macho thing. HAHAHA
You men are so sweet sometimes ;)
Logan
07-24-2002, 1:10pm
And you women ALWAYS are.. ;)

-Vega-
aFinn
07-24-2002, 1:14pm
Originally posted by Vega
And you women ALWAYS are.. ;)

-Vega- AAAAAW :kiss:
Logan
07-24-2002, 1:17pm
Would you shoot me if I'd say "YUMMY!" ? ;):D

-Vega-
aFinn
07-24-2002, 1:34pm
Originally posted by Vega
Would you shoot me if I'd say "YUMMY!" ? ;):D

-Vega- I donīt own a gun :funny: ;)
Logan
07-24-2002, 1:41pm
GOODIE! :D

In that case... YUMMY! :D:D:D

-Vega-
aFinn
07-24-2002, 2:44pm
Originally posted by Vega
GOODIE! :D

In that case... YUMMY! :D:D:D

-Vega- :funny: :funny: :funny:
Laura48
07-24-2002, 9:41pm
Originally posted by aFinn
:nervous: What a coincidence. I just watched Armageddon... :nervous:

Spooooooooky.
canoilers
07-24-2002, 11:34pm
Does anybody know how big it is?
Eilsel
07-25-2002, 12:26am
2km wide I think. I heard on the news if it did hit it would destroy the earth. Now that really sucks. They said something about destroying it somehow though, but it may not even come close to the earth, its too early to tell.
Laura48
07-25-2002, 12:27am
Originally posted by canoilers
Does anybody know how big it is?

Supposedly it's a mile wide. :nervous:
canoilers
07-25-2002, 12:35am
You mean like some X-files thing where the goverment has some kind of secret laser and blast it from the cosmos.
canoilers
07-25-2002, 12:41am
Ouch!!!
Eilsel
07-25-2002, 12:54am
Originally posted by canoilers
You mean like some X-files thing where the goverment has some kind of secret laser and blast it from the cosmos.
Something like that.:p
canoilers
07-25-2002, 1:02am
The problem with having the power to make a comet miss the earth, You gain the power to make one hit the planet as well. A new dooms day device if you will.
Geronimo
07-25-2002, 1:15am
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ShaniaLookAlike
[B]Omg, it's Armageddon all over again! :p

Most asteroids burn up while going through the earth's atmoshpere, but if this one is very large. . . it could make it through. :smirk:

This is how they say the Dinosaurs died, from an asteroid hitting the earth. When the asteroid hit earth the dust blocked out the sun and all the vegetation died. . resulting in the deaths of all living things. :sad:
==============================================

I'm not sure I agree with that theory about the dinosaurs. I like Gary Larson's theory (The Far Side) better:

"The Real Reason Dinosaurs Became Extinct"
canoilers
07-25-2002, 1:20am
Thats so funny:p thanks I needed that
aFinn
07-25-2002, 2:07am
Originally posted by Geronimo

"The Real Reason Dinosaurs Became Extinct"
:p :funny: :funny:
aFinn
07-25-2002, 2:10am
Originally posted by Laura98
Spooooooooky. I know! :nervous:

It was only a week ago and I saw it for the first time too!

I guess the real life is based on the movies..
canoilers
07-25-2002, 2:28am
truth is stranger than fiction.
benperkins
07-25-2002, 4:28am
Allllllright I'm gonna spend the moment it reaches here by rocking out to Its The End of the World as we know it in my underware on the roof :D

Ben
Marine
07-25-2002, 4:35am
Originally posted by benperkins
Allllllright I'm gonna spend the moment it reaches here by rocking out to Its The End of the World as we know it in my underware on the roof :D

Ben Whoa, dude, put yer pants back on, we got like 17 years here =P
benperkins
07-25-2002, 4:37am
Nothing like a little bit of planning ahead! :D

Ben
canoilers
07-25-2002, 5:35am
This sounds famliar. like a modern day Y2K scare.
Matt
07-25-2002, 5:59am
Originally posted by Geronimo
"The Real Reason Dinosaurs Became Extinct"
:funny:

Gotta love those Far Side Cartoons.
canoilers
07-25-2002, 6:01am
Do they still make those. I haven't seen a new one in years.
Matt
07-25-2002, 6:01am
Good question. I'm not sure.
Marine
07-25-2002, 6:14am
Wow, I just found out one of my IP members (wcnet.org) has some of their cartoons...

http://www.wcnet.org/~mkessen/farside.htm
canoilers
07-25-2002, 8:47am
Classics, wish I could find new ones.
Babee Shania
07-26-2002, 1:33am
WELL.
guess who's not sleeping tonight.:uhh:
Marine
07-26-2002, 1:34am
Originally posted by Babee Shania
WELL.
guess who's not sleeping tonight.:uhh: Come ooon, you got a whole 17 years left =P
Matt
07-26-2002, 1:43am
Originally posted by Marine
Come ooon, you got a whole 17 years left =P
Yep, 17 years to party. You can join Ben, he's already started his party. :p
Eilsel
07-26-2002, 1:52am
:p
ShaniaLookAlike
07-26-2002, 1:53am
Hey, think about the positive side. . . at least most of us will never grow old. :up:

:p
Marine
07-26-2002, 4:45am
I didn't wanna grow old anyway. Hard telling, I might end up getting killed before then.
Matt
07-30-2002, 2:31am
Looks like it won't hit after all. :p

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=570&ncid=753&e=2&u=/nm/20020730/sc_nm/space_asteroid_dc_1
ShaniaLookAlike
07-30-2002, 2:39am
So I guess we will grow old after all! :smirk: :p

It's always nice to know that the world isn't going to end! :p
canoilers
07-30-2002, 2:50am
Isn't it though. I always enjoy knowing that I'm not going to die.
Curti
07-30-2002, 5:26am
"While we cannot yet completely rule out an impact possibility on February 1, 2060, it seems very likely that this possibility will be soon ruled out as well," the lab said.

Well, 58 years to go!!! :funny: :smirk:
Longshot
07-30-2002, 6:43am
Originally posted by canoilers
Isn't it though. I always enjoy knowing that I'm not going to die.
You plan on living forever then?
Eilsel
07-30-2002, 12:26pm
Well that's great then. It would have sucked if it had of hit.:p
aFinn
07-30-2002, 1:50pm
Originally posted by Longshot

You plan on living forever then? :funny: :funny:

I have also made such plans :). Too bad that my plans donīt always work out! :p
canoilers
07-31-2002, 2:50am
Originally posted by Longshot

You plan on living forever then?



I have to plan my day. I gotta know my FUBAR schedule
Longshot
07-31-2002, 6:13am
Originally posted by aFinn
I have also made such plans :). Too bad that my plans donīt always work out! :p
Probably because you forget them as soon as you think of them :funny:;)
SHANIANUTS!
07-31-2002, 8:45am
It is interesting to note that some news items here actually get attention - life and death items and donkey bites have something in common!:p
aFinn
07-31-2002, 6:31pm
Originally posted by Longshot

Probably because you forget them as soon as you think of them :funny:;) yeah!! :funny: :funny: :funny:

Too bad I never forget to go to work! Then my bad memory would actually serve some good! :p
Longshot
08-01-2002, 7:40am
Originally posted by aFinn
Too bad I never forget to go to work! Then my bad memory would actually serve some good! :p
Thats true.. Maybe I should see if I can forget to go to work too, lol.
aFinn
08-01-2002, 3:38pm
Originally posted by Longshot

Thats true.. Maybe I should see if I can forget to go to work too, lol. Oh, lemme know if you figure it out! :funny:
canoilers
08-01-2002, 6:29pm
Isn,t that what booze is for.
aFinn
08-01-2002, 6:47pm
Originally posted by canoilers
Isn,t that what booze is for. I donīt drink to forget. I donīt need booze for that . :funny:
Longshot
08-01-2002, 8:28pm
Originally posted by aFinn
Oh, lemme know if you figure it out! :funny:
Assuming I dont forget I'm supposed to be working it out.. :)
aFinn
08-02-2002, 12:08am
Originally posted by Longshot

Assuming I dont forget I'm supposed to be working it out.. :) :funny: :funny: :funny: :p