Comet May Have Missed Earth By a Few hundred Kilometers

First time accepted submitter afree87 writes "A re-analysis of historical observations at a Mexican observatory suggests Earth narrowly avoided an extinction event just over a hundred years ago. On August 12th and 13th 1883, an astronomer at a small observatory in Zacatecas in Mexico made an extraordinary observation, some 450 objects, each surrounded by a kind of mist, passing across the face of the Sun. This month, Hector Manterola at the National Autonomous University of Mexico suggests these were fragments of a comet. 'If they had collided with Earth we would have had 3275 Tunguska events in two days, probably an extinction event.'"

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[Anonymous Coward]

How Slashdotters approach all scientific articles:

1. Abounding skepticism.
2. Criticism of scientist's findings and methods used.
3. Explanation of failed logic.
4. Loss of all wonder and awe and appreciation at whatever findings remain.
5 Cynicism and dejection at failure of science.
6. Continued existence of misery and woe and greater skepticism.

My tongue is jammed up against my cheek; otherwise, I'd say more. God bless.