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Asteroid Explodes Over Sudan

Posted by timothy on from the did-it-make-a-noise dept.

radioweather writes "A recently discovered Apollo Asteroid, 2008 TC3, exploded over Sudan at about 1046 EDT on October 7, 2008, according to astronomer Tim Spahr of Harvard University 2008 TC3 was discovered on Monday by an observer at the Mt Lemmon Observatory near Tucson, Arizona. 2008 TC3 is notable in that it is the first Asteroid of its size that was identified before impact and tracking it put the entire Spaceguard tracking system to an extreme test. TC3 is estimated to be only two to five meters in diameter but exploded with the force of a one kiloton of explosive power." We mentioned the asteroid last on Monday, when it was only at a 99.8 percent chance of colliding with Earth.

114 comments

  1. Picture of explosion? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Pics or it didn't happen.

    1. Re:Picture of explosion? by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Pics or it did[n't] happen.

      Fixed it for Schrödinger.

      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
    2. Re:Picture of explosion? by Muad'Dave · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Wouldn't that be "Pics or it [ did & didn't ] happen."?

      --
      Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
    3. Re:Picture of explosion? by Gat0r30y · · Score: 1

      Pics or it did[n't] happen.
      Fixed it for SchrÃdinger.

      Pics or it hit my cat.
      Fixed that for you.

      --
      Prediction: The real iPhone killer is going to be sex robots from Japan. Think about it.
    4. Re:Picture of explosion? by ypctx · · Score: 1

      No, in all my experiments, the stupid cats always broke the flask before I was able to radiate the box.

    5. Re:Picture of explosion? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, more like "Pics or it |did + didn't> happen."

    6. Re:Picture of explosion? by bh_doc · · Score: 1

      In my experience the more standard form would be |did> + |didn't>, with suitable normalisation implied or otherwise.

    7. Re:Picture of explosion? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      http://www.eumetsat.int/groups/public/documents/image/img_homepage_asteroid_2008.jpg

    8. Re:Picture of explosion? by torpor · · Score: 1

      Wouldn't it be more "Pics or [it, not it] didn't happen"?

      --
      ; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --
  2. They Are in Our Prayers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Let's hope this doesn't wound their bustling economy and leave them as poor as the Americans.

    1. Re:They Are in Our Prayers by mweather · · Score: 1

      You say that jokingly, but their per-capita debt is a fraction of ours. Sadly, they're already richer than we are. But we live a pretty good lifestyle on that debt.

    2. Re:They Are in Our Prayers by initdeep · · Score: 1

      it's hard to have any per capita debt when you have nothing to buy.....

    3. Re:They Are in Our Prayers by Idiomatick · · Score: 1

      Their earning capacity is like 1% as well...

    4. Re:They Are in Our Prayers by mweather · · Score: 2, Insightful

      There is plenty to buy, from AKs to RPGs. I know I'd be in debt if I had access to the fire power they do.

  3. It worked! by gmuslera · · Score: 1

    Who tought that a team of oil drillers would fail that mission?

    1. Re:It worked! by Drakkenmensch · · Score: 1

      That's what happens when you forget to hire Aerosmith to write your theme song!

  4. TFA by loafula · · Score: 3, Funny

    TFA is clearly wrong. The image looks more like it is exploding Sudan, rather than exploding over Sudan.

    --
    FOXTROT UNIFORM CHARLIE KILO
    1. Re:TFA by loafula · · Score: 1

      *ahem* sarcasm

      --
      FOXTROT UNIFORM CHARLIE KILO
    2. Re:TFA by larry+bagina · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't mind exploding over Susan. Rarrwww!

      --
      Do you even lift?

      These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

    3. Re:TFA by Starteck81 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Sorry, I couldn't tell if you were being serious or sarcastic. It seemed to lean to the latter. Too many /. post too fast and too literal.

      --
      "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed H
    4. Re:TFA by Starteck81 · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't mind exploding over Susan. Rarrwww!

      Sounds like a movie I once saw...Armaget-it-on.

      --
      "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed H
    5. Re:TFA by chibiace · · Score: 0

      its a slide from a cia powerpoint presentation.

      --
      he who controls the spice controls the universe
    6. Re:TFA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Sounds like a movie I once saw...Armaget-it-on.

      Did you see Deep-Throat Impact..?

  5. Explode over or on? by Drakin020 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    [blockquote]pi]No deaths have been reported yet.[/blockquote][/i] So did it explode over Sundan or on Sundan?

    --
    The greatest revenge in life is massive success.
    1. Re:Explode over or on? by ivan256 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Over.

      It completely burned up miles above the surface. That quote is like saying "Drakin020 had a birthday party with cake! No deaths have been reported yet." In other words, it's purely sensationalism. Though it is a true statement, no deaths will *ever* be reported due to this event, because none occurred.

    2. Re:Explode over or on? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      That quote is like saying "Drakin020 had a birthday party with cake! No deaths have been reported yet." In other words, it's purely sensationalism.

      I don't know; have you ever been to one of Drakin020's birthday parties?

  6. Only 99.8%? by .sig · · Score: 2, Funny

    Liike like this one sure beat the odds and proved everyone wrong...

    --
    -Space for rent
    1. Re:Only 99.8%? by g0dsp33d · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I don't even know why they bother telling us before like 99.999%.

      --
      lol: You see no door there!
  7. 99.8 chance of what?! by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 2, Insightful

    We mentioned the asteroid last on Monday, when it was only at a 99.8 percent chance of colliding with Earth.

    [pedantic] you mean a 99.8 chance of colliding with Earth's atmosphere. [/pedantic]
    From Slashdot's previous summary:

    The asteroid is assumed to be 3-4 meters in size; it is expected to burn up completely in the atmosphere, causing no harm

    ...so don't go running underground just yet, kids.

    1. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by Reziac · · Score: 1

      I once saw a meteor that was large enough to show a disk -- albeit burning very brightly (it lit up the night like an old-fashioned flashbulb). It only lasted a few seconds after that. Sadly for disaster theorists, the atmosphere was just too much for it.

      Until they start throwing rocks the size of large buildings, or strip off the atmosphere before doing so, I just can't get too worried about such trivial space junk.

      (Anyone know how big a rock needs to start off to survive the passage thru the atmosphere and have any part of itself hit the ground?? -- I once found a meteorite; it was nickel-iron and only about an inch across, and it was lying on top of the grass in our front yard!)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    2. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by elrous0 · · Score: 1

      Sometimes I think I will never get to use my Y2K bunker. Damn.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    3. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by jbeaupre · · Score: 1

      So let me get this straight: The Earth's atmosphere isn't part of the Earth. Wow!

      --
      The world is made by those who show up for the job.
    4. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by vbraga · · Score: 1

      While it doesn't go away, I'm fine with that =)

      --
      English is not my first language. Corrections and suggestions are welcome.
    5. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by Gat0r30y · · Score: 1

      Hang in there buddy, there's time yet for the end of the world.

      --
      Prediction: The real iPhone killer is going to be sex robots from Japan. Think about it.
    6. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by corsec67 · · Score: 1

      [doublypedantic]Some of it did hit the earth. It just didn't hit the earth intact, or in any large pieces[/doublypedantic]

      Are you saying it all evaporated, and left the atmosphere? Because if any of it landed on the earth, then it did hit the Earth.

      --
      If I have nothing to hide, don't search me
    7. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by David+Gould · · Score: 1

      That's okay. It's not the end of the world if it's not the end of the world.

      (from V3, can't find the exact strip)

      --
      David Gould
      main(i){putchar(340056100>>(i-1)*5&31|!!(i<6)<< 6)&&main(++i);}
    8. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by Shotgun · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Anyone know how big a rock needs to start off to survive the passage thru the atmosphere and have any part of itself hit the ground??

      Size doesn't matter (thank you. thank you. Tip your waitress). No, really. It matters, it just isn't "all" that matters. Relative velocity is just as important. If the body sneaks up on us from behind, it could actually have a relatively low differential velocity. The nickel-iron sample you found would probably fit in that category, and it slowed to terminal velocity before being burned up.

      An extremely large body coming directly at us for a head-on collision probably wouldn't make it to the ground (and wouldn't have to in order to take out a large percentage of life in our little gravity well hole.)

      --
      Aah, change is good. -- Rafiki
      Yeah, but it ain't easy. -- Simba
    9. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by Reziac · · Score: 2, Interesting

      All true... tho I suppose someone somewhere has run the numbers for the basic classes of "speed + direction + mass + velocity + composition + fudge factor" vs. "size of hole in ground, or velocity and vectors of remaining chunks of planet". ;)

      I always wondered how that little chunk of iron wound up sitting on *top* of the grass, like it had been gently placed there... tho I've read that isn't too unusual with small meteorites.

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    10. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by Joe+the+Lesser · · Score: 1

      The atmosphere is a subset of Planet Earth.

      --
      "I only speak the truth"
      Karma: null(Mostly affected by an unassigned variable)
    11. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by Garridan · · Score: 1

      It was an alien lander, you insensitive clod! Very small aliens.

    12. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by Reziac · · Score: 1

      Ohhhh... Oh dear. Silly me! I hope I didn't make the aliens fall out of their chairs when I picked it up.

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    13. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by whathappenedtomonday · · Score: 4, Interesting

      This is not quite what you're looking for, but nice to play around with: Impact Effects Calculator.

      --
      I hope I didn't brain my damage.
    14. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by Reziac · · Score: 1

      Oh, very good, this does it nicely, thanks... I played with it a bit. Seems even a fairly large chunk of ice (100m) isn't enough to do more than make a few people go "What was that??" and it takes a similar-sized chunk of iron to make a crater like the famous one in Arizona.

      I think we can all stop worrying ... except for me; in the latter example, I stood too close to the impact and was ejected from the crater. :)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    15. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by mweather · · Score: 1

      [pedantic]What planet is Earth's atmosphere on?[/pedantic]

    16. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The last I was aware, Earth's atmosphere was considered a part of Earth.

    17. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wouldn't feel too safe. What if one of these meterors hit a place with no atmosphere, like New Jersey?

    18. Re:99.8 chance of what?! by Reziac · · Score: 1

      An AC bravely says,

      "I wouldn't feel too safe. What if one of these meterors hit a place with no atmosphere, like New Jersey?"

      And what would be so bad about that? ;)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
  8. Fine, but no one really saw it by gardyloo · · Score: 1

    Spacewatch.com covered this about as well as one could expect. Apparently a couple airline pilots saw the possible fireball, but that's about it. I've seen no photos yet (probably none were captured). So although we infer the thing burned up (or "exploded!one!!111!!eleven" as per the /. headline), it's not as sensationalistic as Our Editors make it out to be.

    1. Re:Fine, but no one really saw it by gardyloo · · Score: 4, Informative

      More comprehensive information from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_TC3

    2. Re:Fine, but no one really saw it by Muad'Dave · · Score: 1

      Troll??? Come on, secret government satellites, a hint of a coverup? That's at least good enough for 'Insightful'!

      --
      Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
  9. No recipes found? by gblackwo · · Score: 1

    Third result on google for "Asteroid Sudan" is on the foodnetwork. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=asteroid+sudan&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

  10. Finally.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the UN is doing something about Darfur.

    1. Re:Finally.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Yes, it was a bit touch and go there while the US, China and Russia were falling over themselves looking for stuff to veto to prevent anything from getting done.

      Exercise for the reader: count the number of vetoes by nation and see just -why- the UN is "doing nothing"

    2. Re:Finally.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Stargazers in Sudan may have also heard the asteroid collide with the atmosphere, making a wooshing or humming sound." (from here)

  11. Duh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "We mentioned the asteroid last on Monday, when it was only at a 99.8 percent chance of colliding with Earth."

    ONLY a 99.8 percent chance...

  12. Only.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "when it was only at a 99.8 percent chance of colliding with Earth."... ONLY 99.8%?

  13. Earth 1: Bugs 0 by CorporateSuit · · Score: 4, Funny

    Their most powerful weapon can be dismissed as nothing but a fireworks show.

    I, for one, welcome our claim as overlords over these asteroid-flinging insects.

    --
    I am the richest astronaut ever to win the superbowl.
  14. test by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "ut the entire Spaceguard tracking system to an extreme test. "

    I guess they failed the test, since it still hit the planet (well the atmosphere)

    Early detection is a must for preserving the planet...

  15. Re:it's not an asteroid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Trouble with meteoroids? Try new Cosmic Preparation H!

  16. Invasion? by naoursla · · Score: 1

    Would someone please search the Sudan desert for alien spores that will begin taking over human bodies if we don't kill them now while they are helpless?

    1. Re:Invasion? by Sneftel · · Score: 5, Funny

      i have searched there is no danger please come see for yourself bring glucose

      --
      The opinions stated herein do not necessarily represent those of anybody at all. Deal with it.
    2. Re:Invasion? by gardyloo · · Score: 1

      Bristol? Is that you?

    3. Re:Invasion? by oldspewey · · Score: 4, Funny

      This spore-laden asteroid was only a followup, a redundant backup mission. The original alien spore mission to Sudan succeeded several years ago ... spore-infected individuals are known to take up weapons and form militia groups who then engage in rape, murder, and genocide. So far nobody outside Sudan seems to have taken much notice or to care.

      --
      If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
    4. Re:Invasion? by EvanED · · Score: 5, Funny

      Dear kind sir, I am located in the Sudan, and a small piece of this asteroid landed in a nearby field. I have investigated, and there is unfortunately evidence of alien spores. However, I am presently unable to eradicate them. If you could wire a sum of $10,000 (ten thousand dollars) to my account then I will be able to take action. I am an official in the Sudanese government, and can guarantee that your expendature will be reimburesed plus an additional $10,000 reward, but it operates slowly and the government funds will not be available in time.

      I look forward to hearing back from you if you can help. I will send detailed information in response. I fear that if you do not help, the Earth may be susceptable to the alient invaders.

    5. Re:Invasion? by FrameRotBlues · · Score: 2, Funny

      You spelled "sir" without a "u," and your grammar and punctuation is mostly correct. FAIL!

      Then again, I bet lots of disingenuous spam writers would love to have you help them...

    6. Re:Invasion? by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Given the way people are acting in the Sudan currently, things would probably be much better if they were all taken over by alien spores.

    7. Re:Invasion? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only on Slashdot would this be modded Interesting rather than Flamebait/Troll/Funny...

      Captcha: Swords

  17. Why is this news? by shaitand · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I was under the impression that these sort of tiny asteroids burned up in our atmosphere all the time and were observed as shooting stars.

    1. Re:Why is this news? by compro01 · · Score: 4, Informative

      It's news because this is the first time we detected one before it hit and were able to track its descent.

      --
      upon the advice of my lawyer, i have no sig at this time
    2. Re:Why is this news? by nedlohs · · Score: 1

      A bit bigger than a shooting star, but frequent enough.

      It's news because it was the first one that has been tracked, predicted to hit, and then hit.

    3. Re:Why is this news? by John+Hasler · · Score: 1

      > It's news because it was the first one that has been tracked, predicted to hit, and then hit.

      It's news because it was the first one that has been tracked.

      --
      Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
    4. Re:Why is this news? by MozeeToby · · Score: 2, Informative

      Because the asteroid was itentified and tracked days before it entered the atmosphere. For the first time, astronomers were able to predict the exact time and location the asteroid would strike (well, would have stuck if it hadn't exploded in the atmosphere). Also, what we see as shooting stars are little more than grains of sand, this was more like a good sized boulder and would have made a noticable fireball as it tracked across the sky.

    5. Re:Why is this news? by nedlohs · · Score: 1

      No we've tracked lots of rocks in space before, after they whiz by of course for ones that size. Which is the predicted to hit part (rather than "oh look it almost hit") and why it was originally news. It's news again because yes it did hit.

      Just tracking does not get it on cnn.com.

    6. Re:Why is this news? by RobertB-DC · · Score: 1

      "Because the asteroid was itentified and tracked days before it entered the atmosphere."

      Days? We wish. It was discovered on October 6, 06:38 UTC, and impacted on October 7, 02:46 UTC. That's not days... that's about 20 hours.

      It's awesomely cool that we saw this one coming. It's just a baby, though, and as the articles noted they hit us several times a year. What would be awesomely UNcool is if we didn't see its Big Sister until 20 hours before it hits somewhere over the northeast US.

      Personal bolide story: I saw a cool one while at the beach earlier this year. I sent myself a text message so I wouldn't forget the details: "3 flashes 20 deg above horiz from moon to 45 deg smoke after first flash 21.50" To clarify, the "moon to 45 deg" means that it traversed the sky (at about 20 degrees elevation) from the vicinity of the moon, southward across the sky about 45 degrees. Sorry if I don't really know the appropriate terminology! But it was, indeed, awesomely cool.

      --
      Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
    7. Re:Why is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then where are the real pictures and video. They had plenty of time to setup for a photo and video shoot :).

    8. Re:Why is this news? by compro01 · · Score: 1

      Wikipedia has a few items

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_TC3#External_links

      Honestly, pictures and video are very difficult for this, given that it is very small (at most 5m long), quite far away (it was still about 30km up when it exploded.), and was moving very fast (it entered the atmosphere at 12.8KM/s). It was only in the atmosphere for a few seconds before it blew up, not to mention it came in over a practically uninhabited area.

      --
      upon the advice of my lawyer, i have no sig at this time
  18. Guess what? by arizwebfoot · · Score: 0

    I bet it's not two to five meters now! BTW for those that are meter challenged that would be roughly 6 to 15 feet.

    --
    Oh Well, Bad Karma and all . . .

    --
    Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
    1. Re:Guess what? by Subgenius · · Score: 1

      Don't forget that it was only two to five meters when measured head-on. When measured from the side it would only be one to four meters, and from the back four to seven meters.

      --
      Toil is Stupid. Don't be Stupid.
    2. Re:Guess what? by Alzheimers · · Score: 3, Funny

      Head-on, apply directly to the atmosphere. Head-on, apply directly to the atmosphere. Head-on, apply directly to the atmosphere.

  19. This thread is useless without pics by jfengel · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I suppose it's kinda neat that the Spaceguard system actually spotted something, but at this small size the only interesting thing would be that we knew it was coming and could get a nice video. Surely somebody in Sudan is still alive and holding a video camera.

    1. Re:This thread is useless without pics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      You seriously over-estimate the level of technology available in Sudan.

      (And the number of people per square mile, if it's in northern Sudan... It's quite possible there were only a few people within a hundred miles.)

    2. Re:This thread is useless without pics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Spaceguard system will shortly get an upgrade. This will be done from this cool cpu chip we found laying around in a pile of scrap. We also found this really neat robotic hand.

      Nothing bad could possibly happen because of the upgrde to Skynet.

  20. *poof* bye bye by morrison · · Score: 2, Interesting

    We mentioned the asteroid last on Monday, when it was only at a 99.8 percent chance of colliding with Earth.

    Mm.. so I suppose that means it now has a 0.0 percent chance of colliding with the Earth. Or is that number now 'NaN' since it doesn't exist anymore?

    --
    Cheers!
    Sean
    1. Re:*poof* bye bye by Chemisor · · Score: 1

      The probability of an event that has already happened is always equal to 1. Predictions are uncertain only about the future, and, of course, for past events about which there is not enough information.

    2. Re:*poof* bye bye by Trogre · · Score: 1

      100%, since it did collide with the earth :)

      --
      "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
    3. Re:*poof* bye bye by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well since it has already collided, it has 0 chance of colliding now.

    4. Re:*poof* bye bye by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nay, it now has a 100% chance of colliding with the Earth as small particulates as they sift down through our atmosphere and combine with the ecosystem. It will become a part of our environment, permanently now.

  21. Oh about that Harvard degree . . . by arizwebfoot · · Score: 0

    Harvard scientists had informed that the 2008 TC3 asteroid would burn up and give rise to a fireball in the sky

    eFluxMedia - Oct 7, 2008

    Not trying to create flamebait or anything, but if the folks at Harvard can't get it right . . . .

    --
    Oh Well, Bad Karma and all . . .

    --
    Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
    1. Re:Oh about that Harvard degree . . . by TinFoilMan · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yale said it was gonna hit the moon.
      Columbia said it was gonna splash into the Indian Ocean.
      Princeton said it was not really there.
      NYCC said "Whatsup with that?"
      The SEC said "Deep fry more chikin".
      The Pac-10 said, "Dude, Surfs up"
      The Big-10 said, "Time to go huntin".
      Everybody else didn't have a clue.

      --
      In my other life, I eat cats.
    2. Re:Oh about that Harvard degree . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It did burn up. It did not touch ground.

      Reading comprehension FTW!

  22. The End Is Near by pseudorand · · Score: 3, Funny

    Don't be fooled people. I've seen the movies. I know these things come in groups. If there's one, there's more, and a bigger one is surely on it's way. First the Tsunami, then Katrina and Ike, then the Economy, now this. Those of you who haven't been saved are doomed.

    BTW, anyone want to buy a copy of my newsletter?

    1. Re:The End Is Near by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're forgetting the methane geysers and LHC

    2. Re:The End Is Near by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      BTW, anyone want to buy a copy of my newsletter?

      Your ideas intrigue me.

    3. Re:The End Is Near by splutty · · Score: 1

      Those of you who haven't been saved are doomed.

      Pfew! Thankfully I've got autosave mode on.

      !! General Einstein Failure Detected, Please Reboot Universe !!

      --
      Coz eternity my friend, is a long *ing time.
  23. I'll Make the Call... by SeeSp0tRun · · Score: 1

    I need the number for Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, and Rip Torn...

    --
    Something witty.
  24. 2008 TC3 to be renamed a dwarf asteroid by Framboise · · Score: 1

    The International Astronomical Union should in the next General Assembly, decides, after a long week of intense discussions, that
    1) meter sized asteroids should be called from now on "dwarf asteroids"
    2) vaporized dwarf and normal asteroids should be declassified and put in the list of exctinct celestial bodies.

  25. Alarmism Amok! by Chysn · · Score: 2, Insightful

    From TFA:

    "UPDATE: Please note that the use of an alarmist headline and imagery to increase the casual reader's desire to look at the entire article was an intentional parody."

    CNN should hard-code that into their website's header.

    --
    --I'm so big, my sig has its own sig.
    -- See?
  26. Yep. by djMouton · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Pics or it didn't happen.

  27. Stupid hyperbole by hcdejong · · Score: 1

    "extreme test" my ass. I get all the "extreme" I could ever need on Discovery Channel, please keep the language inflation off Slashdot.

  28. You know God hates your country by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    when He starts throwing shit at it

  29. Marvin Martian says..... by snspdaarf · · Score: 1

    "What happened to the 'kaboom'? There was supposed to be an earth-shattering 'kaboom'!"

    --
    Why, without your clothes, you're naked, Miss Dudley!
  30. Priorities. by Velocir · · Score: 1

    From TFA: "A 20 to 50 meter asteroid exploding over a major city could result in a significant loss of property and life." Good to see they have their priorities straight...

  31. Re:discovery.com by Psykechan · · Score: 1

    Thanks to discovery.com's commercials, I learned that most meteors burn up in Earth's atmosphere.

    Ah the atmosphere. Ahhhh!

  32. Re:discovery.com by tsa · · Score: 1

    Hm, no wonder we have global warming. The meteors use up all the oxygen.

    --

    -- Cheers!

  33. There's a guy here by Centurix · · Score: 1

    Calls himself General Zod, although I don't think his beard is regulation. Says he's looking for the office of solitude, or something like that. Says he's fresh from the Sudan, but I'm not sure about that as he's dressed ready for a disco...

    --
    Task Mangler
  34. SUGAR! In water! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    88)

  35. Re:it's not an asteroid by aliquis · · Score: 1

    All this asteroids vs meteoroids talk on Slashdot just gave hemoroids a new meaning to me. There even is a crater!

  36. Idiotic article by KlausBreuer · · Score: 1

    Yes, we know - an asteroid was tracked, blew up just as expected, and that's it. Have a look at the very nice "Bad Astronomy" site:
    http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/06/incoming-2/

    While this article shows an artists impression of a huge asteroid striking our planet, text like "No deaths have been reported yet." and talking about equivalency to nuclear devices.

    This kind of article belongs in a bottom-of-the-line newspaper like the german "Bild" or some crappy little website, but not on Slashdot, thanks.

    --
    Free PC version of ChipWits at http://www.breueronline.de/klaus/chipwits/