3 ms·
Eh, that all assumes the object has a relatively short orbital period around the Sun. None of that would work for an object with a very long orbital period, whi
by craftyguy 7y ago
Eh, that all assumes the object has a relatively short orbital period around the Sun. None of that would work for an object with a very long orbital period, which would have a very high velocity in the inner solar system and likely would not be observed until it was already on its way here. Then there are objects which are not in orbit around the Sun, with even higher velocities.
- magduf 7y ago>and likely would not be observed until it was already on its way here. That's my whole point: if we were more serious about this, we'd have orbital observation platforms looking for all these objects and keeping track of them all, so that we aren't surprised by anything short of another asteroid from totally outside the solar system like that one a couple years ago.