Giant asteroid could hit Earth in 2014 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Retro4Life · 12-30-2009, 07:09 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/0...eut/index.html

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- A giant asteroid is heading for Earth and could hit in 2014, U.S. astronomers have warned British space monitors.

But for those fearing Armageddon, don't be alarmed -- the chances of a catastrophic collision are just one in 909,000.

Asteroid "2003 QQ47" will be closely monitored over the next two months. Its potential strike date is March 21, 2014, but astronomers say that any risk of impact is likely to decrease as further data is gathered.

On impact, it could have the effect of 20 million Hiroshima atomic bombs, a spokesman for the British government's Near Earth Object Information Centre told BBC radio.

The Centre issued the warning about the asteroid after the giant rock was first observed in New Mexico by the Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research Program.

"The Near Earth Object will be observable from Earth for the next two months and astronomers will continue to track it over this period," said Dr Alan Fitzsimmons, one of the expert team advising the Centre.

Asteroids such as 2003 QQ47 are chunks of rock left over from the formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago. Most are kept at a safe distance from the Earth in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

But the gravitational influence of giant planets such as Jupiter can nudge asteroids out of these safe orbits and send them plunging towards Earth.

MrCleveland · 12-30-2009, 07:24 PM

So this is kinda Good News/Bad News scenario.

Retro4Life · 12-30-2009, 07:38 PM

^ Yeah, I guess. My feeling is that a hundred years ago these things probably zipped by all the time, and perhaps at much closer proximity, but since no one realized it no one worried.

Good that we know; to a point.

robyrob · 12-31-2009, 10:13 AM

well, i for one am going to write this date down on my calendar and will be fully prepared to duck when the time comes.

TJL · 12-31-2009, 11:22 AM

Well, at least i won't have to renew my drivers licence in 2013.

MrCleveland · 12-31-2009, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

Well, at least i won't have to renew my drivers licence in 2013.

I get mine renewed in 2012

Hope I can use the damn thing soon....

Fleet · 12-31-2009, 05:23 PM

I'm not worried. If an asteroid is heading this way, I'll just move to another state.

ekkostar · 12-31-2009, 06:38 PM

Did these people not see that "End of the World" episode of Sliders? Don't they know that they can just construct an atom bomb and break up the asteroid!?

Tubehead · 01-02-2010, 11:31 AM

I thought the world was going to end at 2012?

12-30-2009, 07:09 PM	#1
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Giant asteroid could hit Earth in 2014 http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/0...eut/index.html LONDON, England (Reuters) -- A giant asteroid is heading for Earth and could hit in 2014, U.S. astronomers have warned British space monitors. But for those fearing Armageddon, don't be alarmed -- the chances of a catastrophic collision are just one in 909,000. Asteroid "2003 QQ47" will be closely monitored over the next two months. Its potential strike date is March 21, 2014, but astronomers say that any risk of impact is likely to decrease as further data is gathered. On impact, it could have the effect of 20 million Hiroshima atomic bombs, a spokesman for the British government's Near Earth Object Information Centre told BBC radio. The Centre issued the warning about the asteroid after the giant rock was first observed in New Mexico by the Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research Program. "The Near Earth Object will be observable from Earth for the next two months and astronomers will continue to track it over this period," said Dr Alan Fitzsimmons, one of the expert team advising the Centre. Asteroids such as 2003 QQ47 are chunks of rock left over from the formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago. Most are kept at a safe distance from the Earth in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. But the gravitational influence of giant planets such as Jupiter can nudge asteroids out of these safe orbits and send them plunging towards Earth.
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12-30-2009, 07:24 PM	#2
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,234	So this is kinda Good News/Bad News scenario.
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12-31-2009, 10:13 AM	#4
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,203	well, i for one am going to write this date down on my calendar and will be fully prepared to duck when the time comes.
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12-31-2009, 11:22 AM	#5
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Well, at least i won't have to renew my drivers licence in 2013.
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12-31-2009, 05:23 PM	#7
Fleet Mansions, limousines & H-ween Forum Star Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: Northridge/Porter Ranch, California Posts: 15,625	I'm not worried. If an asteroid is heading this way, I'll just move to another state.
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12-30-2009, 07:38 PM	#3
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	^ Yeah, I guess. My feeling is that a hundred years ago these things probably zipped by all the time, and perhaps at much closer proximity, but since no one realized it no one worried. Good that we know; to a point.

12-31-2009, 06:38 PM	#8
ekkostar Coffee, Tea & Larroquette! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 16, 2005 Posts: 1,077	Did these people not see that "End of the World" episode of Sliders? Don't they know that they can just construct an atom bomb and break up the asteroid!?
	__________________ "All my sitcoms had an audience, with four or five cameras, so working this way has always been appealing to me." - John Larroquette A living legend, five Emmys and a Tony award! Your favorites could never...

01-02-2010, 11:31 AM	#9
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	I thought the world was going to end at 2012?