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> "Naturally when you see the percentages go up, it doesn't make you feel warm and fuzzy and good," he added, But as astronomers gather more data, he explained,

> "Naturally when you see the percentages go up, it doesn't make you feel warm and fuzzy and good," he added, But as astronomers gather more data, he explained, the probability will likely edge up before rapidly dropping to zero. This seems like it's more of a data anomaly then a real chance. I'm personally not worried because what is worrying gonna do. If this thing is really on a collision course with Earth and will strike and wipe us all out then I guess that's how we all go out. I'm honestly curious though if something like this is a "city killer" or a "world killer".

Mistletoe 2y ago
> Astronomers estimate its size to be between 130 and 300 feet (40–90 metres) wide, based on its brightness. Analysis of its light signatures suggests it has a fairly typical composition, rather than being a rare metal-rich asteroid. Definitely not a world killer, right?
- williamcotton 2y ago
  An object of this size would likely be an airburst on the order of 5 megatons. The largest nuclear explosion was at least 50 megatons. And 90% of the planet is sparsely populated.
- AnimalMuppet 2y ago
  Not a world killer. A city killer, though.
LandR 2y ago
City killer. From what I've read it's estimated at 8MT or so. A large nuke.
throwingrocks 2y ago
From the article > This is not the dinosaur killer. This is not the planet killer. This is at most dangerous for a city
01HNNWZ0MV43FF 2y ago
Wikipedia is saying half the yield of Castle Bravo, which was not a world killer
rsynnott 2y ago
Last time one on this scale happened, albeit a somewhat larger airburst, it killed potentially up to three people: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_event https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_event 8 megatonnes sounds like a lot, but it's smaller than many actual nuclear weapons, and unlike nuclear weapons, asteroid airbursts are rarely ideally located over cities. Smaller-scale events in the tens of kiloton (ie ~Hiroshima) range happen quite regularly, without anyone really noticing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteor_air_burst#Events https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteor_air_burst#Events

Mistletoe 2y ago

> Astronomers estimate its size to be between 130 and 300 feet (40–90 metres) wide, based on its brightness. Analysis of its light signatures suggests it has a fairly typical composition, rather than being a rare metal-rich asteroid. Definitely not a world killer, right?

williamcotton 2y ago
An object of this size would likely be an airburst on the order of 5 megatons. The largest nuclear explosion was at least 50 megatons. And 90% of the planet is sparsely populated.
AnimalMuppet 2y ago
Not a world killer. A city killer, though.

LandR 2y ago

City killer. From what I've read it's estimated at 8MT or so. A large nuke.

throwingrocks 2y ago

From the article > This is not the dinosaur killer. This is not the planet killer. This is at most dangerous for a city

01HNNWZ0MV43FF 2y ago

Wikipedia is saying half the yield of Castle Bravo, which was not a world killer

rsynnott 2y ago

Last time one on this scale happened, albeit a somewhat larger airburst, it killed potentially up to three people: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_event https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_event 8 megatonnes sounds like a lot, but it's smaller than many actual nuclear weapons, and unlike nuclear weapons, asteroid airbursts are rarely ideally located over cities. Smaller-scale events in the tens of kiloton (ie ~Hiroshima) range happen quite regularly, without anyone really noticing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteor_air_burst#Events https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteor_air_burst#Events