12 responses to “Asteroid to Almost Hit the Earth Today!”

1. 

   steveegg

   June 28, 2011 at 9:19 am

   Close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and thermonuclear weapons not aimed at hardened targets.
2. 

   Boyd

   June 28, 2011 at 9:26 am

   Experts say there is little chance the rock will hit a satellite, simply because of the vast expanse and relatively small number of satellites.

   Not to mention that all geosynchronous satellites are over the equator, and therefore nowhere near “the coast of Antarctica.”

   Experts? Really? Or is the reporter just a Science idiot? (Rhetorical question, of course)
3. 

   PJ

   June 28, 2011 at 9:44 am

   @Steven:

   Asteroid to Almost Hit the Earth Today!

   Actually, it Almost Hit Earth Yesterday. 🙂
4. 

   Steven L. Taylor

   June 28, 2011 at 9:49 am

   @PJ:

   Details, details.
   ‘
   Actually, it occurred to me just as I was posting that I might have the timing wrong. However, I figured any post that used the phrase “deadly space rock” probably could live with only semi-accuracy 😉
5. 

   PJ

   June 28, 2011 at 10:43 am

   @Steven:
   I’m just happy that we are all still here. 🙂
6. 

   Steven L. Taylor

   June 28, 2011 at 10:45 am

   @PJ:

   It is quite the relief.
7. 

   Neil Hudelson

   June 28, 2011 at 11:23 am

   Wait, that was yesterday?

   *Puts away shovel for digging bunkers.*
8. 

   JKB

   June 28, 2011 at 11:48 am

   See what happens, we are told to wipe out our economy and lead billions in to poverty and suffering over a little bit of CO2 to save the world and what happens? The Earth almost gets hit by a bus (size rock).
9. 

   PJ

   June 28, 2011 at 1:12 pm

   The ISS almost got hit by space junk today, and the crew had to be evacuated to their rescue craft.
10. 

    ptfe

    June 28, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    @Boyd: Actually, geosynchronous satellites just have the same orbital period as the Earth’s rotation — 24 hours. All geostationary satellites sit over the equator. A geosynch satellite that isn’t at the equator looks like it’s making a north-south oscillation as it orbits.

    Strangely, it’s a common mistake to assume they’re the same because most people even in industry (whether because they actually think they’re the same or are just not thinking about it) use the terms interchangeably to mean geostationary. But while the orbital altitude is the same, the direction makes a big difference.
11. 

    Boyd

    June 28, 2011 at 2:06 pm

    Thanks for the correction, ptfe. I’ve never considered geosynchronous satellites outside of the case of being geostationary. I hate being wrong, but I hate not finding out I’m wrong even more. Well, except when it comes to ex-wives, but that’s a special case.

    At least I’ve had the fun of derailing a light-hearted post with pedantic minutiae! OT FTW!
12. 

    G.A.Phillips

    June 28, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    I’m just happy that we are all still here. 🙂

    I am mighty sure God is going to destroy us with an supernatural hellfire not a big rock so don’t worry.