We're not doomed but...

DanielMMS · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:07

An asteroid will pass by the Earth on Friday in something of a cosmic near-miss, making its closest approach at about 1600 GMT. The asteroid, estimated to be about 11m (36ft) in diameter, was first detected on Wednesday.

Am I being irrational in raising an eyebrow at the text in bold? In the ridiculously unlikely event that an asteroid actually had a trajectory that would lead to an impact with this planet, would 48 hours be sufficient time to do anything about it?

Nitefly · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:08

Call me the world's most armchairy of experts, but is something 11m wide really that dangerous? Wouldn't need to do anything if it was going to hit anyway, surely?

James J · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:08

Yes you are being irrtanional, seen as its 11 metres in diameter. It wouldn't even get past the stratosphere. It was only detected so "late" due to its size. The larger the object, the easier it is to detect.

TrixiBuG · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:09

No idea but its a bit late now isn't it? At 8 mins passed 4 and we are still here...

G-MAN2004 · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:09

2 days is pretty short, but I guess it wasn't that much of a threat.

Azza · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:10

I laugh in the face of an asteroid that's 11m in diameter !

Haggisman · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:10

Nitefly said:
Call me the world's most armchairy of experts, but is something 11m wide really that dangerous? Wouldn't need to do anything if it was going to hit anyway, surely?

If it's 11m wide when it hits us, then certainly, but before entering the atmosphere - not really, as most, if not all of it will be burnt up before it lands.

LOAM · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:11

48 hours ? I could have sex about 1000 times, plenty of time.

Cosimo · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:12

I’m not worried, honest!

ThomasTheTankEngine · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:14

Wasn't there one recently that we only discovered after it made a near miss with earth?

Brookert · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:14

in other news, did you know that half of the water content of the Earth was brought by meteorites........

EdGey · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:42

What could we do about it if we had 2 years notice?

nuke it?

edit: oh, 11m. I assumed it would be bigger

KaHn · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:45

EdGey said:
What could we do about it if we had 2 years notice?

nuke it?

Call in bruce willis.

KaHn

EdGey · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:47

KaHn said:
Call in bruce willis.

KaHn

I was thinking that

It's not a problem.

twist3d0n3 · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:50

Haggisman said:
If, it's, 11m, wide, when, it, hits, us, then, certainly, but, before, entering, the, atmosphere, -, not, really, as, most, if, not, all, of, it, will, be, burnt, up, before, it, l,a,n,d,s,.,

post needed more commas

Tikkabhuna · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:50

LOAM said:
48 hours ? I could have sex about 1000 times, plenty of time.

1000 times? You better hope the world ends else your member is going to be mighty sore. :eek:

Castiel · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:50

Nitefly said:
Call me the world's most armchairy of experts, but is something 11m wide really that dangerous? Wouldn't need to do anything if it was going to hit anyway, surely?

Depends on what it is made out of though...... :eek:

Castiel · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:52

Brookert said:
in other news, did you know that half of the water content of the Earth was brought by meteorites........

So sea level rise is their fault.....those pesky Meteorites.....they should stay in Meteoropia....SEND THEM BACK!!!!!

grimm · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:53

Call me when you see one a mile in diameter

Andr3w · 27 Jan 2012 at 16:53

Castiel said:
So sea level rise is their fault.....those pesky Meteorites.....they should stay in Meteoropia....SEND THEM BACK!!!!!

That made me lol