It would hardly matter. An asteroid smaller than the Dinosaur Killer could come within hours of the earth and nobody would know. Even if we had a week's warning, what could anyone do? We'd need a warning of some years combined with a certainty of an impact to get the nations together and build an Orion-class craft that could then use its drive nukes to nudge the rock off course. cn
I don't know that they would need or use nukes... it would depend on the compositon of the asteroid... if anything they would try to slam into it and knock it off course... at least that's what I saw on tv one time... but what do I know. stay highIt would hardly matter. An asteroid smaller than the Dinosaur Killer could come within hours of the earth and nobody would know. Even if we had a week's warning, what could anyone do? We'd need a warning of some years combined with a certainty of an impact to get the nations together and build an Orion-class craft that could then use its drive nukes to nudge the rock off course. cn
But what if it was fricken huge....and they knew a couple years ahead of time.I don't think they would tell us because they know that it would be a free for all.Not that it will matter but....It would hardly matter. An asteroid smaller than the Dinosaur Killer could come within hours of the earth and nobody would know. Even if we had a week's warning, what could anyone do? We'd need a warning of some years combined with a certainty of an impact to get the nations together and build an Orion-class craft that could then use its drive nukes to nudge the rock off course. cn
Well, if you have an asteroid a coupla miles in diameter, you need joules. Only way to carry enough into space is to build a 5000-ton spaceship (Orion would be that!) and carry lots and lots of thermonukes (as missiles with some propulsion and guidance ... generate a safe standoff, lol) and set one off after the other, not quite in front, like performing a pool shot.
Most comets are found by amateur astronomers out there with really cool specialist telescopes. They would very definitely spot something huge, and it'd be all over the web. I have a pretty nice telescope,and I'd be able to track a Dinosaur Killer out to about fifty million miles out, once the hardcore optics geeks did the finding. The Internet would pretty much prevent such a thing from being entirely suppressed, and unlike ancient aliens or political conspiracy theory, the verification would be within reach of folks like this guy.
That would be the object known as 99942 Apophis. It's about 900 feet in diameter, and estimated impact energy would be around 500megatons, so 10x the biggest thermonuke tested in atmosphere. If it struck near a developed coastline, deaths would be in the tens of millions, but the disaster would be regional, not global. If the global warming folks are right, we'll get much more damage to society from the next century's sea level rise. cn
you probably get a sweet view where youre at... no light polution whatsoeverMost comets are found by amateur astronomers out there with really cool specialist telescopes. They would very definitely spot something huge, and it'd be all over the web. I have a pretty nice telescope,and I'd be able to track a Dinosaur Killer out to about fifty million miles out, once the hardcore optics geeks did the finding. The Internet would pretty much prevent such a thing from being entirely suppressed, and unlike ancient aliens or political conspiracy theory, the verification would be within reach of folks like this guy.
Sadly irl the skies here in the 'Stan have gone straight into the diaper. Ten years ago it was good and dark, but the development locally and in CA's Great Central Cesspit have ruined it. I'm looking for a place to live and would like to have dark skies again ... but don't think i can afford it. Shame. The starry skies are a lasting source of spiritual comfort/solace for me. cnyou probably get a sweet view where youre at... no light polution whatsoever
i think your right though.. someone will definitely spot it and throw it online fast
yeah calis doomed if that happens.. hopefully its after harvest for you guys
im the same way, i live in a city-ish area now... i love being in the middle nowhere.. just peaceful
Crap...I live near the shore...lets hope the mountains I'm in keep me safe.....lol...Current estimates of it actually hitting Earth are estimated as less than one in a quarter million. The projected impact track (see Wiki link above) makes an impact near the CA shore unlikely even if it hits. But I'll bet there'd be some hardcore surfers hanging out a few miles outside the usual break ... cn
