TU24 asteroid: coming to an earth near you, Jan 29

[TheDarkHorse]

source:http://cooltech.iafrica.com/space/819120.htm
Asteroid to give Earth a close shave

Thu, 24 Jan 2008

A huge asteroid will zoom past Earth next week at such a close distance that amateur astronomers should be able to spot it, specialists said on Wednesday.

Measuring between 150 and 600 metres across, asteroid 2007 TU24 would inflict devastating regional damage were it to hit Earth, but there is no risk of any collision, they said.

It will fly by on next week Tuesday, being around 534 000 kilometres from the Earth at its closest point at 8.34am GMT, according to a Near Earth Object (NEO) database compiled by the University of Pisa in Italy.

"For a brief time the asteroid will be observable in dark and clear skies with amateur telescopes of three inches (7.5 centimetres) or larger," NASA said on its NEO site.

2007 TU24 will make the closest approach of any known potentially hazardous asteroid of this size or larger until 2027, NASA said, adding that objects of this size come close to Earth about every five years or so on average.

The rock was discovered only last October under a surveillance programme run by the University of Arizona.

According to the Minor Planet Centre of the Paris-based International Astronomical Union (IAU), the closest detected approach by an asteroid was on 31 March 2004 by 2004 FU162, which came within 6500 km of Earth.

Apparently, this could be very dangerous for the entire earth if this asteroid is negatively charged. You can follow that on tu24.org

[Mr Fahrenheit]

I heard that this thing's path is pretty eratic and astronomers aren't 100% sure that it won't hit Earth

That was a couple days ago though

[The Stig]

The use of the phrase devastating regional damage leads me to believe that it would suck for the area but not be cataclysmic for the earth.

[lfantwister]

coincidentally jan 29th is milton friedman day

in case you were wondering

[McP3000]

Oh Gawd Its The Apocalypse

[Det_Nosnip]

liek omg!

[FakePlasticTrees]

I wonder where it would impact?

[TheDarkHorse]

I wonder where it would impact?

the entire earth, maybe more so a hemisphere, which is unknown.

Scientists don't fear an impact, but they fear a negatively charged asteroid that would cause a plasma discharge.

[McP3000]

the entire earth, maybe more so a hemisphere, which is unknown.

Scientists don't fear an impact, but they fear a negatively charged asteroid that would cause a plasma discharge.
Its not coming close enough for that.
Most of the meteor's debris would be too small to pass through the hemisphere without being disintegrate

[TheDarkHorse]

it doesn't even have to enter our atmosphere to affect us

[guitrguy]

I'm stick my head in between my legs and kissing my *** goodbye

[Surtr]

Sexy ****. My bet is, if it does hit, it hits Africa or Russia. It ALWAYS hits Africa or Russia.

[Knifeboy]

It ALWAYS hits Africa or Russia.

And noone ever notices/cares

[1338 h4x0r]

the entire earth, maybe more so a hemisphere, which is unknown.

Scientists don't fear an impact, but they fear a negatively charged asteroid that would cause a plasma discharge.

That wouldn't affect the firmware on my mp3 player, would it?

[Aaron]

^ best post ever.

[bradc1988]

I'm seeing Dream Theater on the 30th so if the world ends the day before I shall be pissed.

[Bordello]

the asteroid would be doing you a favor

[spitfirejunky]

They weren't bad, just really long and occasionally boring.

[VomitStainedCretin]

At least I won't have to worry about my essay (due on 31st) if it hits...

[EightMilesHigh]

We need to send Bruce Willis, Owen Wilson, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler up there pronto.

[Mr. Ron]

ah ****, that date is my anniversary with my gf.

[VomitStainedCretin]

We need to send Bruce Willis, Owen Wilson, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler up there pronto.Not forgetting Harrison Ford, Chuck Norris and Sylvester Stallone.

[Surtr]

What an all-star cast.

[matt cox]

[my * case] we'll find out soon enough if this comet is gonna hit. Rock the Jam!

got Serum? 00:@#:%$

[McP3000]

What an all-star cast.
I know

im getting a raging boner thinking about it

[my * case] we'll find out soon enough if this comet is gonna hit. Rock the Jam!

got Serum? 00:@#:%$
What in the nine hells are you talking about?

[Jody LeCompte]

We need to send Bruce Willis, Owen Wilson, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler up there pronto.

If this turns out the same way as the movie I say go for it.

Bruce Willis' career went the same way his part in Sixth Sense went a long time ago.

[Sleep]

up where

[Against Miik!]

If this turns out the same way as the movie I say go for it.

Bruce Willis' career went the same way his part in Sixth Sense went a long time ago.

Hostage was pretty good.

Anyways, I think an asteroid collision would be pretty cool, assuming it doesn't hit somewhere with people. Because the US is involved no matter what. Even if it doesn't hit us, we'll be the ones over there rebuilding infrastructure and everything.

[Jody LeCompte]

up where

Bruce Willis kamikazie'd a giant asteroid on a path to Earth while it was still in space and saved the day, sacraficed himself for his daughter's(Liv Tyler) boyfriend.

[Spiritofmosa]

lol, nothing will happen. It will just zoom past like any other astroid.

[Bordello]

brad it's official you can see dream theater aren't you excited

[Jody LeCompte]

Well, today sucked.

I skipped my computer science exam and used the world ending as an excuse.

[McP3000]

Well, today sucked.

I skipped my computer science exam and used the world ending as an excuse.
an hero

[Jody LeCompte]

a hero*

I took my English exam.

:)

[McP3000]

a hero*

I took my English exam.

:)
https://webspace.utexas.edu/warnerwt/picard-facepalm.jpg

epic fail