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Astronomers Upset About Asteroid Panic

Posted by simoniker on from the construct-identical-trashteroid dept.

DrMorpheus writes "According to the New Scientist, astronomers are horrified by press scares over asteroids - including the recent furore over QQ47 - which briefly had a one-in-a-million chance of crashing into our planet in 2014. So much so that they are toning down the scale they use to rate the threat posed by asteroids in an attempt to discourage journalists from covering potential collisions. Some even want the way asteroids are assessed to be completely overhauled."

5 of 314 comments (clear)

  1. poll by j0hndoe · · Score: 5, Funny

    Asteroid? Not worried. Vaguely worried. Sorta worried. Kinda worried. Somewhat worried. Fairly worried. Worried. FEAR FEAR FEAR

  2. Why Worry? by Pro_Piracy_Guy · · Score: 5, Funny
    The dinosaurs didn't even bother looking for large objects that might one day impact the planet, and they seemed to do ok.

    Oh wait, they are all dead, I forgot.

  3. Re:Any attention is good by dubiousdave · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes, because if the big one is going to hit, there are a lot of virgins here who need to get laid before everyone dies.

    --
    Thank you. Drive through.
  4. Hack your wall by Daath · · Score: 5, Funny
    Come on, try to hack my 31337 firewall!

    Ha! That was easy! Surprisingly you use the exact same password as I do! What are the odds?! Needless to say I changed it.
    --
    Any technology distinguishable from magic, is insufficiently advanced.
  5. Re:You were distracted . . . by DJTodd242 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Most people didn't read about the discovery of those bipedal sapient weasels in Burma because of all the ruckus over Bob Hope dying.

    This is old news. We discovered lawyers a long time ago.