Comments on: If Earth was hit by a Meteor http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/ The Neat Side of the Web Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:16:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Steven http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-648010 Steven Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:07:34 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-648010 @Some Canadian Skeptic Apophis is no longer considered as a threat to our planet. No worries there :) First probable impact will be in 16 march 2880 with '1950 DA' but it's not sure it depends on the asteroid's spin pole. 1950 DA is about 1.1 km wide. @Some Canadian Skeptic

Apophis is no longer considered as a threat to our planet. No worries there :) First probable impact will be in 16 march 2880 with ‘1950 DA’ but it’s not sure it depends on the asteroid’s spin pole.

1950 DA is about 1.1 km wide.

]]> By: crankshaft http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-647838 crankshaft Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:15:30 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-647838 The sky is falling! The sky is falling! We're all doomed! Arghhhh!!!! The sky is falling! The sky is falling! We’re all doomed! Arghhhh!!!!

]]> By: Mike Webster http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-646188 Mike Webster Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:00:11 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-646188 From the stated speed and measuring the time it takes to reach an apparent diameter of 1/4 the earth, the red-glowing phase occurs ~2000 miles up. This is inside the exosphere, so some heating is possible from that. There's also a consideration of tidal forces, where the leading edge is being pulled on harder than the trailing one. I haven't run all the numbers, but it's entirely possible that it would be starting to melt down at that height. From the stated speed and measuring the time it takes to reach an apparent diameter of 1/4 the earth, the red-glowing phase occurs ~2000 miles up. This is inside the exosphere, so some heating is possible from that. There’s also a consideration of tidal forces, where the leading edge is being pulled on harder than the trailing one.

I haven’t run all the numbers, but it’s entirely possible that it would be starting to melt down at that height.

]]> By: Some Canadian Skeptic http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-643038 Some Canadian Skeptic Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:58:51 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-643038 Don't mean to sound like a doomsday'er or nothing, but in 2029 the asteroid 'Apophis" will zing right past us (closer than even our geo-sync satellites!). Earth's gravity will alter its trajectory just enough that when Apophis comes back around in 2036, it will slam into us. I don't know if it's as big as the one in the video though.... just sayin. Don’t mean to sound like a doomsday’er or nothing, but in 2029 the asteroid ‘Apophis” will zing right past us (closer than even our geo-sync satellites!). Earth’s gravity will alter its trajectory just enough that when Apophis comes back around in 2036, it will slam into us. I don’t know if it’s as big as the one in the video though….

just sayin.

]]> By: easy_mac http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-642153 easy_mac Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:34:44 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-642153 The thought of something like that occurring during my lifetime scared the bejeezus out of me. The thought of something like that occurring during my lifetime scared the bejeezus out of me.

]]> By: Neo S. http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-640976 Neo S. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:49:39 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-640976 hey check this out: http://pya.cc/pyaimg/pimg.php?imgid=43293 hit the play button. hey check this out:
http://pya.cc/pyaimg/pimg.php?imgid=43293
hit the play button.

]]> By: Ali S. http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-640906 Ali S. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:06:55 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-640906 @ raith50 I am unsure for the 1st video but for the 2nd video it's called "Casino" from the movie "Run Lola Run". @ raith50

I am unsure for the 1st video but for the 2nd video it’s called “Casino” from the movie “Run Lola Run”.

]]> By: raith50 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-640746 raith50 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:12:24 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-640746 What is the soundtrack music anyone got any idea What is the soundtrack music anyone got any idea

]]> By: Christophe http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-639751 Christophe Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:29:38 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-639751 It's glowing because it's was borrowed from the '5th element' movie. It’s glowing because it’s was borrowed from the ‘5th element’ movie.

]]> By: EP http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-639747 EP Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:28:46 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-639747 But we have Superman, right? But we have Superman, right?

]]> By: Xinavera http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-639648 Xinavera Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:21:01 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-639648 Matt is actually right. The only reason the asteroid (and make no mistake, this is an asteroid, not a meteorite) would be glowing initially is if it were cooling from a recent impact. Sloppy job on the part of Discovery Channel or whoever does their CGI, but the point remains that we're well and truly screwed in the unlikely event that something like this happens. However, nocedhal, it is quite possible for large objects like this to go "unnoticed". We like to think that we've got all the large stuff out there, but they're still finding smaller earth-crossers (~1km) with some regularity that would still cause us a world of hurt. Furthermore, at the scale of this impact, mountain ranges, ocean floors and other diffraction sources are totally insignificant to the propagating blast wave. It makes a difference when the scale of the object is similar to that of the wave, but not for something this big. Matt is actually right. The only reason the asteroid (and make no mistake, this is an asteroid, not a meteorite) would be glowing initially is if it were cooling from a recent impact. Sloppy job on the part of Discovery Channel or whoever does their CGI, but the point remains that we’re well and truly screwed in the unlikely event that something like this happens.

However, nocedhal, it is quite possible for large objects like this to go “unnoticed”. We like to think that we’ve got all the large stuff out there, but they’re still finding smaller earth-crossers (~1km) with some regularity that would still cause us a world of hurt.

Furthermore, at the scale of this impact, mountain ranges, ocean floors and other diffraction sources are totally insignificant to the propagating blast wave. It makes a difference when the scale of the object is similar to that of the wave, but not for something this big.

]]> By: mu http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-639647 mu Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:15:05 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-639647 Yes, comets are, essentially, dirty snowballs but this is an asteroid not a comet. Asteroids are usually made of rock. The composition doesn't matter that much anyway, what matters is the kinetic energy and that depends on the mass and the square of the object's speed. All that kinetic energy has to go somewhere and most of it would end up as heat. nocedhal, I'm not sure what you're saying but: Jupiter has nothing to do with this. Mountains are too small to have any noticeable effect on something like this; Everest is only 9km high and we're dealing with something 500km in diameter. A billiard ball would be a lot rougher than the Earth if you scaled it up to the size of the Earth. Yes, comets are, essentially, dirty snowballs but this is an asteroid not a comet. Asteroids are usually made of rock. The composition doesn’t matter that much anyway, what matters is the kinetic energy and that depends on the mass and the square of the object’s speed. All that kinetic energy has to go somewhere and most of it would end up as heat.

nocedhal, I’m not sure what you’re saying but: Jupiter has nothing to do with this. Mountains are too small to have any noticeable effect on something like this; Everest is only 9km high and we’re dealing with something 500km in diameter. A billiard ball would be a lot rougher than the Earth if you scaled it up to the size of the Earth.

]]> By: avraamov http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-639620 avraamov Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:00:40 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-639620 figuring all that out is more than just astronomy. physics, geology, hydrology. homeopathy as well. mustn't forget THEM. figuring all that out is more than just astronomy. physics, geology, hydrology. homeopathy as well. mustn’t forget THEM.

]]> By: matt http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-639595 matt Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:51:34 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-639595 well, i still think my question is valid. badastronomy dot com often takes popular scifi movies and gets into the reality of the physics and what-not, for fun, and iirc they occasionally pick apart TLC and DISC shows. i was just curious. i might forward this on to an astronomer i know and ask him. well, i still think my question is valid. badastronomy dot com often takes popular scifi movies and gets into the reality of the physics and what-not, for fun, and iirc they occasionally pick apart TLC and DISC shows. i was just curious. i might forward this on to an astronomer i know and ask him.

]]> By: CheeseDuck http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-639588 CheeseDuck Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:48:45 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-639588 Photoshopped! ;) Photoshopped! ;)

]]> By: anon http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-639573 anon Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:39:43 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-639573 Take a deep breath and relax. This is Discovery, not ILM. The main point here is that if a meteor hits, we're boned. The major lifesaver for us thus far has been the asteroid belt. One planet died or didn't form and we live. Kinda poetic isn't it? Take a deep breath and relax. This is Discovery, not ILM.
The main point here is that if a meteor hits, we’re boned.

The major lifesaver for us thus far has been the asteroid belt. One planet died or didn’t form and we live. Kinda poetic isn’t it?

]]> By: superbad http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-639570 superbad Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:39:05 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-639570 "fake" Well, that was an astute observation. “fake”

Well, that was an astute observation.

]]> By: nocedhal http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-639438 nocedhal Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:18:51 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-639438 fake, is physically impossible for a celestial object as large, go unnoticed by the giant gravities of jupiter and the physical after the shock wave is too perfect as if there were no reactions mountains fake, is physically impossible for a celestial object as large, go unnoticed by the giant gravities of jupiter and the physical after the shock wave is too perfect as if there were no reactions mountains

]]> By: matt http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/03/if-earth-was-hit-by-a-meteor/#comment-639435 matt Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:16:34 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=17139#comment-639435 i have an odd question for the astronomy peeps out there... why is it, in the second video, that the meteor is shown as an inwardly-glowing hot item, even when outside of the Earth's atmosphere? that set off a red flag to me, but that gut instinct must be naively wrong. so, what's up with small, scalding hot bodies traveling through our solar system? aren't comets balls of much and "ice?" i have an odd question for the astronomy peeps out there… why is it, in the second video, that the meteor is shown as an inwardly-glowing hot item, even when outside of the Earth’s atmosphere? that set off a red flag to me, but that gut instinct must be naively wrong. so, what’s up with small, scalding hot bodies traveling through our solar system? aren’t comets balls of much and “ice?”

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