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2010 AL30, Asteroid Or Space Junk, To Pay a Close Visit

Posted by kdawson on from the threading-the-needle dept.

astroengine writes "A near-Earth object that could be manmade has just been discovered hurtling toward us. On Wednesday (Jan. 13), an object called 2010 AL30 will fly by Earth at a distance of just 130,000 km (80,000 miles). That's only one-third of the way from here to the moon, i.e. very close. It will miss us, and if it did hit us, it wouldn't do any damage anyway, but I managed to pick up on some chatter between planetary scientists and found out that the 'asteroid,' or whatever it is, gives us a new standard: a 10-meter-wide asteroid can be detected two days before it potentially hits Earth. A pretty useful warning if you ask me."

6 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. Doesn't mean anything by noname444 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The fact that we've detected a 10m wide object once, a couple of days before it hits (or doesn't hit), doesn't mean anything. It might be that we can detect every such object or one in a million.

  2. Re:Two days? by Ginger+Unicorn · · Score: 2, Insightful

    sounds like a recipe for carnage if the projected impact zone is a highly populated area. hey everyone in new york city - you have two days to clear the city - ready,steady,go!

    although that carnage is neither here nor there when the alternative is being obliterated instantly.

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  3. That's your own fault by dreamchaser · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you do not always have at least one (preferably at least four) weeks of food and water handy then you're daft anyways. We've grown so complacent and soft. I'm not a survivalist per se but we keep plenty of food stores and several gallons of potable water handy in case of a natural (or even unnatural) disaster.

    As for getting to high ground, well you chose where you live :)

  4. A what where now?! by Provocateur · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Even more alarming is where I heard it first...on frackin Slashdot!

    * me nervous

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    WARNING: Smartphones have side effects--most of them undocumented.
  5. Re:Two days? by MrMr · · Score: 3, Insightful

    From driving there I was under the impression that everybody got into and out of New York city on a daily basis anyway.
    Why would this be different?

  6. You've never tried to get on the R line at 08:15. by crovira · · Score: 2, Insightful

    There's no such thing as a patient New Yorker. Not a living one anyway.

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    MSBPodcast.com The opinions expressed here are my own. If you don't like 'em... Think up your own stuff.