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imjeffp
Senior Space Cadet
Reged: 09/30/03
Posts: 4433
Loc: Cedar Park, Texas
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I don't know the math, but just how much energy are we talking about to effect delta-v on an asteroid?
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Blog
ST80 • AT80EDT/LXD650
ETX-90/DS-2000 • 10" LX200 Classic ("The Quarter-Meter Telescope at the Heritage Park Observatory")
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BillFerris
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/17/04
Posts: 2582
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Quote:
well, if you have the ability to deflect the path of another asteroid to bump off track the killer asteroid (either by impact or gravitational influence), then you have the ability to bump the troublesome asteroid itself.
Right. Also, the energy required to move another asteroid into a completely new orbit that would result in it hitting the potential impactor is mind-boggling. And frankly, the odds that another asteroid would be in an orbit that would take it close enough to the impactor to try such a thing are so remote as to be practically impossible.
Fortunately, where large NEAs are concerned, odds are we'd have many years advance notice before an impact. That gives us reasonable time to study the composition and motion of the asteroid before trying something desperate like launching nukes at it, willy nilly.
Regards,
Bill in Flagstaff
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Grand Canyon Adventure
Lowering the Threshold
18" Obsession
4.5" Meade 4500
10x50 Swift Audubon
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matt
Vendor (Scopemania)
Reged: 07/28/03
Posts: 10022
Loc: Chaville, France
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Now we just have to hope that the object with our number on it is some long-period comet which will not be discovered more than a year in advance.
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Matt
CI700 mount with various scopes on top.
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rboe
Numbfinger
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 39735
Loc: Phx, AZ
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And we don'thave to convert from English to Metric to hit it....
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
15X70 Obies
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Jarad
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 3858
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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Hey, you got your foot in my meter!
No, you got your meter in my foot!
Mmm... they taste great together!
Jarad
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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The public should be told, that way Hollywood would have time to rush Armageddon 2: Sudden Impact into production.
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Cerberus
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/16/04
Posts: 2689
Loc: Newton, KS 67114
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Nuke the NEA's!!!
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 11637
Loc: At The Movies
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As The object in question silently approaches Earth, NORAD would prepare for the president's arrival and order curfew laws. Those detained for looting would be transferred to a labor facility. Because of the large amout of dust in the air, trains would be used as main tranportation.
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