Time to start stocking up on Ensure. NASA scientists warn that an asteroid could hit the Earth in 2128. The object, known as 1999 RQ36, is the asteroid which could hit Earth in 2128. That’s right, 2128! Actually, the odds are still one-in-one-thousand, but 1999 RQ36 is a Near Earth Object (NEO) whose orbital path intersects the Earth’s orbit periodically. A recent research paper indicates that 1999 RQ36 poses a “non-zero impact probabilities on numerous occasions during the years after 2165.”
There are thousands of NEO class asteroids. In fact, one just passed us by yesterday! 1999 JD6, also known as Object 85989, passed Earth yesterday a mere 12,889,800 miles, about 0.1386 AU (Astronomical Units). That asteroid was a fairly large one, about 2.4 kilometers long and 1.1 kilometers wide. The charts linked below provide details of many NEO asteroids which will make close approaches.
In 2004, NASA scientists caused a bit of a panic with another asteroid, 99942 Apophis. Initial study of it’s orbit showed a 1-in-233 chance of hitting the Earth in 2029. Apophis was given a Level 4 on the Torino scale, used to rate potential threats. But the 270 meter long asteroid has since been downgraded to Level Zero for 2026. In 2036, during it’s next fly-by, there is a 1-in-250,000 chance of striking and in 2068, only a 1-in-3,000,000 chance.
The most likely Earth strike is estimated to be 1950 DA, a.k.a 29075. That asteroid poses a “significant possibility of impact” on March 16, 2880. The odds of this NEO hitting the Earth are calculated to be 1-in-3! Originally discovered in 1950, astronomers only tracked it for 17 days until it faded from view. On December 31, 2000, the asteroid was reacquired. Observations from both the Goldstone and Arecibo radar antennas measured the NEO as 1.1 kilometers wide. The probability of it hitting the Earth fall inside the limit of prediction, 0.33%.
You don’t have to worry that an asteroid could hit Earth in 2128. You’ll be happy to know that your Congress is on the ball. H.R. 5587 was drafted last month and calls for a commission to investigate planetary defenses. Naturally, it includes “other purposes”, too. If an asteroid could hit Earth in 2128, our Congress will figure out a way to tax us thoroughly well before it happens.
Learn More About Near Earth Objects & Asteroids:
July 28th, 2010 at 11:44 am
Looks like they’ll need lots more people and mondy at NASA to ’study’ how to avert the these mischief makers.
July 28th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
[...] http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=6830 Bookmark to: {title:"Asteroid could be on course to hit Earth causing massive devastation.",url:"http://thedoomnews.com/2010/07/28/a-giant-asteroid-could-be-on-course-to-hit-earth-causing-massive-devastation/"} Filed Under: The End of the World [...]
July 28th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Congress is on the job. They’ll debate it for a few years then launch a study group, then a committee. Maybe by 2127 we’ll have something.
July 28th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Your picture is ridiculously out of scale. That’s a planetoid, not a meteroite. A meteorite only a small fraction of that size would devastate the Earth due to the velocity at which it would be traveling (like a bullet).
We need to be concerned about threats to the planet other than this, or else by 2128 there won’t be any Earth left to destroy. Of course the right wing does not agree with this. Which leads to a question:
I know you believe that global warming is a scam. Are they ANY threats to the environment that you believe are really a problem? Destruction of the rain forests? Water pollution? Pollution of the oceans? Air pollution? Anything? The ozone layer? What? (Good opportunity for a flip answer, I know.)
July 28th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
There is no comet.
Its all a distraction so we’ll start buying a bunch of sht. The gerbil warming hoax has been exposed so lets try this.
We need to start investing in harvesting energy from the earths heated core, bunkers, underground transit, subterranian industrialization… underground environmentalism…
Sewers will be the only function on the earths surface
July 28th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
I’m surprised at you, Micky. Surely you know we cannot harness the heat from the Earth’s core because it is hollow!!!
That’s were the time-traveling N@zis in their flying saucers live.
July 28th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Klo,
Apologies, Klo. I can only use pics that we obtain from either sources we have contracts with or those in public domain. Sometimes searching for good pics take me longer than writing the darn article.
July 28th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
“I know you believe that global warming is a scam. Are they ANY threats to the environment that you believe are really a problem? Destruction of the rain forests? Water pollution? Pollution of the oceans? Air pollution? Anything? The ozone layer? What? (Good opportunity for a flip answer, I know.)”
When are you flaming idiots going to realioze that we want a clean healthy planet as much as anyone ?
I just dont want to be forced into living conditions that require me to use edible condoms and wear a$$ receptacles that store methane ?
July 28th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
“(Good opportunity for a flip answer, I know.)”
Hey, knock off the racist bullsht ! Would you ?
The last thing I want where I live is a bunch of piSSed off Filipinos !
July 28th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
@ Klo
There are three worst case environmental disaster scenarios that keep me up late at night.
1 – The amount of paper required to print the current crop of reform bills will require the complete deforestation of the northern hemisphere.
2 – Some poor intern will pile the health care deform, financial deform, and crap and trade bills one on top of the other. The combined weight will cause their molecular structure to collapse, forming a black hole that will consume the earth.
3 – President O’blather will decide he needs to really be clear about everything. His lower than GWB poll numbers must indicate that we just don’t understand after all. During the planned 4 hour speech, he catches sight of himself in a mirror. One thing leads to another, and he goes on talking until he uses up all the Earth’s oxygen.
July 28th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
@ Klo
Asteroids are more of a threat to us than Global Warming. Even more of a threat than ‘private’ health care insurance. As I wrote, a pretty good sized rock just missed us yesterday. It wasn’t big enough to cause the extinction of all life, but certainly would have been equal to a high-yield H-bomb. Had it landed in or near a major city, it would’ve been toast.