Large asteroid heading to Earth? Pray, says NASA

[WaljinderSingh]

"From the information we have, we don't know of an asteroid that will threaten the population of the United States," Bolden said. "But if it's coming in three weeks, pray."

Read the full article:

By Irene Klotz

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida | Wed Mar 20, 2013 12:55am GMT

Cape Canaveral, Florida: NASA chief Charles Bolden has advice on how to handle a large asteroid headed toward New York City: Pray.

That's about all the United States - or anyone for that matter - could do at this point about unknown asteroids and meteors that may be on a collision course with Earth, Bolden told lawmakers at a US House of Representatives Science Committee hearing on Tuesday.

An asteroid estimated to be have been about 55 feet (17 meters) in diameter exploded on February 15 over Chelyabinsk, Russia, generating shock waves that shattered windows and damaged buildings. More than 1,500 people were injured.

Later that day, a larger, unrelated asteroid discovered last year passed about 17,200 miles (27,681 km) from Earth, closer than the network of television and weather satellites that ring the planet.

The events "serve as evidence that we live in an active solar system with potentially hazardous objects passing through our neighborhood with surprising frequency," said Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, a Texas Democrat.

"We were fortunate that the events of last month were simply an interesting coincidence rather than a catastrophe," said Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, a Texas Republican, who called the hearing to learn what is being done and how much money is needed to better protect the planet.

NASA has found and is tracking about 95 percent of the largest objects flying near Earth, those that are .62 miles (1 km) or larger in diameter.

"An asteroid of that size, a kilometer or bigger, could plausibly end civilization," White House science advisor John Holdren told legislators at the same hearing.

But only about 10 percent of an estimated 10,000 potential "city-killer" asteroids, those with a diameter of about 165 feet (50 meters) have been found, Holdren added.

On average, objects of that size are estimated to hit Earth about once every 1,000 years.

"From the information we have, we don't know of an asteroid that will threaten the population of the United States," Bolden said. "But if it's coming in three weeks, pray."

In addition to stepping up its monitoring efforts and building international partnerships, NASA is looking at developing technologies to divert an object that may be on a collision course with Earth.

"The odds of a near-Earth object strike causing massive casualties and destruction of infrastructure are very small, but the potential consequences of such an event are so large it makes sense to takes the risk seriously," Holdren said.

About 66 million years ago, an object 6 miles (10 km) in diameter is believed to have smashed into what is now the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, leading to the demise of the dinosaurs, as well as most plant and animal life on Earth.

The asteroid that exploded over Russia last month was the largest object to hit Earth's atmosphere since the 1908 Tunguska event when an asteroid or comet exploded over Siberia, leveling 80 million trees over more than 830 square miles (2,150 sq km).

© Thomson Reuters 2013

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/03/20/us-space-astroids-idUKBRE92J02520130320

[Akal Warrior]

The big word is "if". This article does not say that an asteroid is coming. It says, IF there were one, all we can do is pray...meaning there is really nothing we can do to stop it. i think the title of this post should be changed. Some of the crazy "end of the world Singhs" may end up freaking people out for no reason.

[singh135]

run for the hills!

[WaljinderSingh]

Akal Warior, you are right. He says pray for a 3 week notice of a direct impact - if known (most of the asteroids are not detected on time and sometimes not before they enter the earth's atmosphere) ...

but one thing to notice is why did he specifically say that the United Sates is safe from any asteroid impact. Does this mean an asteroid can hit other parts of the planet? Does Nasa's space program not work for the planet as a whole??

[VanHelsingh]

Akal Warior, you are right. He says pray for a 3 week notice of a direct impact - if known (most of the asteroids are not detected on time and sometimes not before they enter the earth's atmosphere) ...

but one thing to notice is why did he specifically say that the United Sates is safe from any asteroid impact. Does this mean an asteroid can hit other parts of the planet? Does Nasa's space program not work for the planet as a whole??

Like their intelligence service, you rub their back and they'll rub yours. :lol2: Nah I'm kidding.

[HSD2]

Akal Warior, you are right. He says pray for a 3 week notice of a direct impact - if known (most of the asteroids are not detected on time and sometimes not before they enter the earth's atmosphere) ...

but one thing to notice is why did he specifically say that the United Sates is safe from any asteroid impact. Does this mean an asteroid can hit other parts of the planet? Does Nasa's space program not work for the planet as a whole??

The US looks after themselves and no one else. Why would you expect any different?

[JagjeetST]

Aajo Singh'o lets do maximum Banis! :lol2:

[WaljinderSingh]

The US looks after themselves and no one else. Why would you expect any different?

Then they should rename their "Near Earth Object (NEO)" Space Program to something else!

[SikhSeeker]

Not to be al conspiracy nut - although you probably will when you read the rest of my message, but there was a source on a video that said that the government are making this up in order to create new types of weapons. Theres a list of all the types of "terrors" that the world will face. There was terrorism, then there will be asteriod hitting the earth, next there will be aliens. This is basically what they make up in order to create fear and a reason to make weapons.

Plus if you look at it logically,the earth's been around for billions of years and how many times have an asteriod hit? And now apparently theres 2 that are hitting in the space of a few months?

[VanHelsingh]

Not to be al conspiracy nut - although you probably will when you read the rest of my message, but there was a source on a video that said that the government are making this up in order to create new types of weapons. Theres a list of all the types of "terrors" that the world will face. There was terrorism, then there will be asteriod hitting the earth, next there will be aliens. This is basically what they make up in order to create fear and a reason to make weapons.

Plus if you look at it logically,the earth's been around for billions of years and how many times have an asteriod hit? And now apparently theres 2 that are hitting in the space of a few months?

They're a bit like buses then, aren't they? You wait ages for one, and then two turn up at the same time.