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Nearby, Recent Interplanetary Collision Inferred

Posted by kdawson on from the when-worlds-collide dept.

The Bad Astronomer writes about a new discovery by the Spitzer Space Telescope, which detected signs of an interplanetary smashup only 100 light-years from here, and only a few thousand years ago. There's a NASA-produced animation of the collision between a Mercury-sized planet and a moon-sized impactor. The collision's aftermath was detected by the presence of what are essentially glass shards in orbit around the star. Here's NASA's writeup.

14 of 88 comments (clear)

  1. And nothing of value got lost? by gmuslera · · Score: 5, Funny

    The civilization that was living in that planet is traveling to a little blue planet that was nearby at a modest 100 light years. Invasion is scheduled for next Tuesday.

    1. Re:And nothing of value got lost? by INeededALogin · · Score: 2, Funny

      The civilization that was living in that planet is traveling to a little blue planet that was nearby at a modest 100 light years. Invasion is scheduled for next Tuesday.

      Little did we know... District 13 was filmed with no computer animations at all.

    2. Re:And nothing of value got lost? by Shakrai · · Score: 5, Funny

      The civilization that was living in that planet is traveling to a little blue planet that was nearby at a modest 100 light years. Invasion is scheduled for next Tuesday.

      Thankfully the invasion was called off when the aliens learned of mankind's secret weapons: lawyers, building permits and environmental impact statements. Said Fleetlord Atvar, "We came here looking to save our race, not to spend the next two hundred years filling out paperwork. We'll find a new home somewhere else, thank you very much."

      --
      I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
      We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
    3. Re:And nothing of value got lost? by gijoel · · Score: 5, Funny

      Not the civilization per se. Just the infant son of the leading scientist who tried to warn them of the impact.

      My calculation predict that he'll land somewhere in Kansas.

    4. Re:And nothing of value got lost? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      There's no need for time travel. An FTL drive (time machine) would have allowed them to arrive before the impact was visible here, a "few thousand years ago." Which, thanks to relativity, would mean they'd arrive before it happened.
        Arriving next tuesday means they've got a drive on their generation ship that can hit a little over .1c or so - crossing about one light year every ten years. Impressive, but not a time machine.

    5. Re:And nothing of value got lost? by StickANeedleInMyEye · · Score: 4, Funny

      The civilization that was living in that planet is traveling to a little blue planet that was nearby at a modest 100 light years. Invasion is scheduled for next Tuesday.

      Actually they landed here ~4 million years ago but accidentally killed the dinosaurs while landing their pyramids.

    6. Re:And nothing of value got lost? by Alarindris · · Score: 3, Funny

      Invasion is scheduled for next Tuesday.

      Must be waiting for Microsoft to releasing a patch for their retrocatalytic ion phaser driver.

    7. Re:And nothing of value got lost? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      The civilization that was living in that planet is traveling to a little blue planet that was nearby at a modest 100 light years. Invasion is scheduled for next Tuesday.

      Thankfully the invasion was called off when the aliens learned of mankind's secret weapons: lawyers, building permits and environmental impact statements. Said Fleetlord Atvar, "We came here looking to save our race, not to spend the next two hundred years filling out paperwork. We'll find a new home somewhere else, thank you very much."

      Best misquote of a Harry Turtledove novel I ever read (it was my first)

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=5740554

  2. Re:Wow! by MichaelSmith · · Score: 2, Funny

    100 light-years! Boy that barely missed us, better put on your hardhats boys because the next mash up is said to be only 80 light-years away!

    We should hope that whoever engineered this is not heading our way.

    --
    http://michaelsmith.id.au
  3. Actually... by RuBLed · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's no moon.

  4. Re:Wow! by icebike · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hay, you have nothing to complain about. The notice was published in the Galactic Gazette by the Vogon destructor fleet for several centuries.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker's_Guide_to_the_Galaxy

    --
    Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
  5. Re:A question for interstellar arms dealers... by Evil_Ether · · Score: 5, Funny

    More efficient ways yes, but more satisfying?

    --
    If taxation is legalized theft, then Capitalism is a prolonged rape followed by a slow death.
  6. Re:From the NASA writeup by trouser · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...plunging deeper and deeper into the unplumbed depths of unimaginably violent, raging, endless storms, and finally sinking to the crushing depths of the great core furnace.

    Like when you're with a lady.

    --
    Now wash your hands.
  7. Re:Wow! by laejoh · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, if you can't be bothered to take an interest in local affairs that's your own lookout.