Comet C/2013 A1 May Hit Mars In 2014

astroengine writes "According to preliminary orbital prediction models, comet C/2013 A1 will buzz Mars on Oct. 19, 2014. C/2013 A1 was discovered by ace comet-hunter Robert McNaught at the Siding Spring Observatory in New South Wales, Australia, on Jan. 3. When the discovery was made, astronomers at the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona looked back over their observations to find "prerecovery" images of the comet dating back to Dec. 8, 2012. These observations placed the orbital trajectory of comet C/2013 A1 through Mars orbit on Oct. 19, 2014. Due to uncertainties in the observations — the comet has only been observed for 74 days (so far), so it's difficult for astronomers to forecast the comet's precise location in 20 months time — comet C/2013 A1 may fly past at a very safe distance of 0.008 AU (650,000 miles). But to the other extreme, its orbital pass could put Mars directly in its path."

Comments

Re:Send a rover.

[Required Snark]

That's a damn stupid idea. The impact point would be the worst possible place to put any data recording device, because it would be destroyed before it could gather any meaningful information. You need to be far enough away to survive the impact to get the maximum benefit.

Turn in your nerd card, you just exhibited too little intelligence. Go watch videos of NASCAR crashes instead, it's more up your alley.