4 ms·

Any collisions that Earth has to worry about? (Once heard the observation that the dinosaurs didn't go extinct because of an impact: they went extinct because

Any collisions that Earth has to worry about? (Once heard the observation that the dinosaurs didn't go extinct because of an impact: they went extinct because they didn't have a space program.)

akoumjian 6mo ago
None yet. Any discoveries made with a possible impact risk would end up on the NEO Confirmation Page for follow up. As soon as an observation arc is long enough and gets a provisional designation, impact risks would be calculated and displayed at both NEOCC and JPL Sentry. We also do impact probability calculations and visualizations at Asteroid Institute.
alex1138 6mo ago
I have this mental image of an asteroid scientist sitting in his little research room, being incredibly jaded... "Asteroids are so INTERESTING. Their history, their chemical composition... but no, nobody cares about that, the first question everyone has is 'Will it impact Earth...'"
stronglikedan 6mo ago
Man, I hope not, cuz Bruce Willis is in no condition to save us right now! (Or is he?)
ButlerianJihad 6mo ago
I am really not sure how a "space program" would have saved the dinosaurs. It would not save humankind today to launch any sort of rocket or missile that we have on hand. The business of deflecting or disintegrating planet-killer asteroids is still the stuff of science-fiction and speculation. The reality of physics is that a sufficient mass with sufficient velocity is not something we would be able to send off-course (enough to make a difference) nor could we detonate it into little harmless splinters.
- NooneAtAll3 6mo ago
  "enough to make a difference" depends a lot on timescale in question Earth travels its radius in 3-4 minutes. Delay asteroid by that in its orbit and you did it If you learn of impact 100 years in advance, your task is only 2 seconds per orbit - less than 1mm/s

4 ms·

Any collisions that Earth has to worry about? (Once heard the observation that the dinosaurs didn't go extinct because of an impact: they went extinct because

by throw0101a 6mo ago

Any collisions that Earth has to worry about? (Once heard the observation that the dinosaurs didn't go extinct because of an impact: they went extinct because they didn't have a space program.)

akoumjian 6mo ago
None yet. Any discoveries made with a possible impact risk would end up on the NEO Confirmation Page for follow up. As soon as an observation arc is long enough and gets a provisional designation, impact risks would be calculated and displayed at both NEOCC and JPL Sentry. We also do impact probability calculations and visualizations at Asteroid Institute.
alex1138 6mo ago
I have this mental image of an asteroid scientist sitting in his little research room, being incredibly jaded... "Asteroids are so INTERESTING. Their history, their chemical composition... but no, nobody cares about that, the first question everyone has is 'Will it impact Earth...'"
stronglikedan 6mo ago
Man, I hope not, cuz Bruce Willis is in no condition to save us right now! (Or is he?)
ButlerianJihad 6mo ago
I am really not sure how a "space program" would have saved the dinosaurs. It would not save humankind today to launch any sort of rocket or missile that we have on hand. The business of deflecting or disintegrating planet-killer asteroids is still the stuff of science-fiction and speculation. The reality of physics is that a sufficient mass with sufficient velocity is not something we would be able to send off-course (enough to make a difference) nor could we detonate it into little harmless splinters.
- NooneAtAll3 6mo ago
  "enough to make a difference" depends a lot on timescale in question Earth travels its radius in 3-4 minutes. Delay asteroid by that in its orbit and you did it If you learn of impact 100 years in advance, your task is only 2 seconds per orbit - less than 1mm/s