Another role for Ben Affleck

[neebs]

Apparently, there is "a spirited debate among space buffs, astronomers and space agencies worldwide over what to do about "near-Earth objects" -- incoming comets and asteroids like the one that many scientists say caused the catastrophic "extinction event" that finished off the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

This discussion, for years a sci-fi giggler among fans of movies such as "When Worlds Collide" and "Armageddon," suddenly became serious late last year when astronomers spotted an incoming asteroid whose probability of hitting Earth on April 13, 2029, rose from one chance in 170 to one chance in 38.

By year's end it was clear that the 1,000-foot-wide space rock, originally designated 2004 MN4 but now named 99942 Apophis, will miss -- but by only 22,600 miles. If it gets exactly the right kind of gravity boost from the 2029 encounter, it will smack into Earth seven years later with enough force to obliterate Texas or a couple of European countries."

I didn't know that we were going to get hit with an asteroid in 2036. How come nobody informs me of these things?!?!?

Comments

[ccohoon.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah! My bad, I forgot to tell everyone. There's another maybe scheduled for 2049 (72 percent chance of impact), but we think it won't really matter after Alphy (what we really call it now).

[neebs.livejournal.com]

I SPECIFICALLY hang out with you because you are a rocket scientist. If you're not going to keep me informed of these things, then I am not giving you your Christmas present. And it's a dang good one, too.