Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

  1. #1
    exotisch23
    Guest

    Default Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

    Check out this video


    I know it's not really probable but it's still scary to think about!
    Last edited by exotisch23; 09-29-2007 at 03:29 AM.

  2. #2
    God/dess
    Joined
    Dec 2004
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    2,218
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked 209 Times in 142 Posts

    Default Re: Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

    There have been at least 9 mass extinctions in the past (the most famous being the dinosaurs). One of the other mass extintions wiped about about 90% of known species on the earth at the time.

    An asteroid collision with the earth is inevitable at some point in the future - it just that our lifespans are so short that the chance of a killer asteriod hitting within them is very small indeed.

    (But someone has to draw the short straw!)

    Phil.

  3. #3
    Chicagoeditor
    Guest

    Default Re: Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

    Anybody want to start planning the End of the World FINAL SW Fest? I vote for Vegas or Vegas II, which they built under water off the Florida coast in 2030.

  4. #4
    exotisch23
    Guest

    Default Re: Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

    ^How about Europe instead? Now that would be fun.

  5. #5
    God/dess xdamage's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2004
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    5,449
    Thanks
    74
    Thanked 165 Times in 119 Posts

    Default Re: Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

    I find it almost strange how many people panic over vague religious, mystical, or prophetic predictions of the end of the world (most of which imply a purpose or a God is involved), yet there's an almost nonchalant, who-cares kind of attitude around the topic of an asteroid strike. The ironic thing is, as he said in the video, we only have to look at our moon with our naked eyes as a reminder of how often strikes occur. And we only need to know the most basic physics, in this case that the energy released is a function of an asteroid's mass and speed, to get even a vague sense of how much energy would be released if one strikes our earth. Even if we can't predict the exact effects on the earth, we can be off by orders of magnitude and still know that the effects will be devastating.

    If I was going to panic over an end of the world scenerio, this is one of the few that would actually concern me, and is one of the many things that our science and human brains actually has a chance to prevent. Lesser intelligent animals can't. Humans living in simple societies can't. Wishful thinking can't stop it. Mystical rituals can't stop it. But chances are the destruction can be prevented if we invest enough money, and brain power now so that we are prepared when the time comes (and it definitely will come). If not this asteroid, there will be other passing near earth over the next hundreds and thousands of years.

  6. #6
    exotisch23
    Guest

    Default Re: Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

    ^the Planetary Society is offering $50,000 in prize awards for a few of the best plans to put a tracking device on or near the asteroid. Why can't they come up with a plan of their own? Are they not smart enough?

  7. #7
    God/dess
    Joined
    Feb 2002
    Location
    OUTTATHISWORLD
    Posts
    7,219
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 23 Times in 15 Posts

    Default Re: Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

    ^probably just that many minds collaborating are better than a few.

    Aren't there several NEO's that can potentially collide with us, not just this one?


  8. #8
    God/dess xdamage's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2004
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    5,449
    Thanks
    74
    Thanked 165 Times in 119 Posts

    Default Re: Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

    Space is a BIG place. The asteroids they are looking for are a LONG way off, and relatively speaking TINY. Many receive and/or reflect relatively little light (and without that, there is no way to see them coming). The ones that could harm us are moving very fast, but if they are headed directly towards us or nearly so it would appear as if they are not moving much at all. Finding them, and finding them early enough to do something about, is not a simple problem. It makes sense to encourage any and all ideas.

  9. #9
    God/dess Corgan's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Southeast Texas
    Posts
    4,735
    Thanks
    10
    Thanked 35 Times in 20 Posts
    My Mood
    Brooding

    Default Re: Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

    oh pleaseeee the world won't be ending in our lifetimes. maybe our kid's, but not ours.

  10. #10
    God/dess xdamage's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2004
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    5,449
    Thanks
    74
    Thanked 165 Times in 119 Posts

    Default Re: Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

    ^^^

    Well, asteroids aren't on anyone's time clock or calendar. They are were they are, headed in the directions they are heading, and don't care at all (cause they are just brainless rocks) if it's inconvenient for us. While I do agree the odds are we won't be hit in one in our lifetime, there is nothing preventing it either. About all we can do is estimate the average frequency and chance of an asteroid strike, but that's an average is all, and doesn't mean that they can't happen sooner or later. And an asteroid strike is not at all like a fault line or volcano. Those have average times based on the rate at which pressure builds . That doesn't apply to asteroid strikes (i.e., you can't say an asteroid strike is due every N years).

    Like I said, when it happens (and odds are it will, it's just a matter of when), wishful thinking won't stop it. We will either have to actively do something to stop it (i.e., use our science, math, technology) or it will happen in spite of those who rely on miracles and wishful thinking.

  11. #11
    madmaxine
    Guest

    Default Re: Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

    "Apophis kicks your balls/ Apophis kicks your face/ Apophis kicks your ass into Outer Space!"

    Bwhahahahah. D00d, wasn't there a movie about this? "Armageddon?" Can't we just send Bruce Willis and some roughnecks to kick the asteroid's ass?

  12. #12
    God/dess xdamage's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2004
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    5,449
    Thanks
    74
    Thanked 165 Times in 119 Posts

    Default Re: Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

    ^^^

    LMAO, damn, I forget, we have actors. So basically, no worries. If we send a rocket ship full of actors and some NUKEs we are so saved

  13. #13
    madmaxine
    Guest

    Default Re: Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

    In all seriousness, I'd worry more about a disease pandemic before I'd be worrying about Rocks From Space. Probability.

  14. #14
    God/dess xdamage's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2004
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    5,449
    Thanks
    74
    Thanked 165 Times in 119 Posts

    Default Re: Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

    ^^^

    Very true. And I lose no sleep over it myself. OTOH I'm in favor of some of my tax dollars going to research solutions. I may see no benefit in my lifetime, but sooner or later someone will, and given how much we spend on building weapons, spending some on an asteroid warning system (maybe even a solution) seems like a useful, positive use of our intelligence to me.

  15. #15
    madmaxine
    Guest

    Default Re: Asteroid Apophis Threatens Earth (2036)

    Quote Originally Posted by xdamage View Post
    spending some on an asteroid warning system (maybe even a solution) seems like a useful, positive use of our intelligence to me.
    But gee, what happened to the Regan Era "Star Wars"?

    Imagine- The "Distant Early Warning" System for asteroids. "Drink And Be Merry, For Tommorrow We Die."

    Poignantly enough, Omni Magazine was bemoaning the lack of funding for asteroid-watch programs decades ago....If we get whacked with a space brick, Poindexter @ NASA's gonna be telling you, "I fricking TRIED to tell you three decades ago!"

    EDIT TO ADD- I get all my weird space-related news from This thread reminded me to start pimping fark in my siggy once more.

Similar Threads

  1. bipolar husband threatens to leave..Constructive ideas?
    By pink_bunny in forum Life Support
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 06-12-2011, 09:35 AM
  2. Asteroid Enters Earth Atmosphere
    By threlayer in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10-08-2008, 01:14 PM
  3. Replies: 12
    Last Post: 08-12-2007, 11:29 PM
  4. Dancer's lawsuit threatens to publicise their real names
    By Destiny in forum Stripping (was Stripping General)
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 06-15-2005, 07:20 PM
  5. Asteroid gonna kill us?
    By azamber's bitch in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 02-15-2005, 07:32 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •