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Author
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Topic: Near-future Extinction Level Event ?
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Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 12-09-2005 02:17 AM
   
The Near-Earth Asteroid 99942 Apophis ( former designation 2004 MN4 ) was headline news again this week both in Newspapers & TV news. Observations pointed out that the Asteroid climbed a bit higher on the Torino impact hazard scale ( equivalent cosmic ‘Richter’ scale ) and could hit the Earth ( Southern Hemisphere ) on April 13, 2036 ( a Friday 13th I believe ).
Anyway, Apophis should pass between the Moon & Earth ( distance 250.000 KM ) in April 2029 … an amazing sight visible from Europe!
Interesting to know is the fact that European Space Agency ESA plans a mission to find out if an asteroid could be deflected from its course ( Don Quichote mission: Hidalgo is an impacter & Sancho is the observer probe ). American astronauts LU & LOVE wrote a paper in NATURE about a tug-rocket and NASA is making plans for a mission called ‘ The Son of Deep Impact ‘ … to be continued… :huh: More on the Asteroid here (esa.int) and here (msnbcmedia.msn.com).
Philip 
[This message has been edited by collectSPACE Admin (edited December 09, 2005).] |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 12-10-2005 12:41 PM
Well check the JPL orbit viewer for Apophis ( Choose 3 days as period and run the animation by pressing the right hand >> button )
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/db_shm?des=2004+MN4 Other asteroid orbits available at:
http://www.hohmanntransfer.com/news.htm
Philip http://mars-literature.skynetblogs.be/
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spaceuk
Member Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 12-10-2005 01:21 PM
Yep - it was covered here in Uk as well in some dailies - including Daily Express who gave it a centre fold spread !Phill
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Rodina
Member Posts: 836
From: Lafayette, CA
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 12-11-2005 03:03 PM
quote:
( Don Quichote mission: Hidalgo is an impacter & Sancho is the observer probe ).
Now that's some stylish naming conventions. Space Station Alpha? CEV? Clipper? Boring. Sancho! Brilliant.
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Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 12-12-2005 01:18 AM
Two science instruments on the NASA New Horizons spacecraft to PLUTO didn't get boring abbreviations but the first names of scientists Ralph & Alice ;-) |
dss65
Member Posts: 1156
From: Sandpoint, ID, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 12-12-2005 08:57 PM
Cool names, but shouldn't have gone to Pluto. Should have been "Pow-zoom to the MOON!"------------------
Don |
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