"Apophis -- The Killer Astroid."

crummyrummy · Apr 15, 2008

http://www.physorg.com/news127499715.html

physorg.com said:

German schoolboy, 13, corrects NASA's asteroid figures: paper
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physorg.com said:

This artist's rendition released by NASA shows an asteroid belt. A 13-year-old German schoolboy corrected NASA's estimates on the chances of an asteroid colliding with Earth, a German newspaper reported Tuesday, after spotting the boffins had miscalculated.

A 13-year-old German schoolboy corrected NASA's estimates on the chances of an asteroid colliding with Earth, a German newspaper reported Tuesday, after spotting the boffins had miscalculated.

Nico Marquardt used telescopic findings from the Institute of Astrophysics in Potsdam (AIP) to calculate that there was a 1 in 450 chance that the Apophis asteroid will collide with Earth, the Potsdamer Neuerster Nachrichten reported.

NASA had previously estimated the chances at only 1 in 45,000 but told its sister organisation, the European Space Agency (ESA), that the young whizzkid had got it right.

The schoolboy took into consideration the risk of Apophis running into one or more of the 40,000 satellites orbiting Earth during its path close to the planet on April 13 2029.

Those satellites travel at 3.07 kilometres a second (1.9 miles), at up to 35,880 kilometres above earth -- and the Apophis asteroid will pass by earth at a distance of 32,500 kilometres.

If the asteroid strikes a satellite in 2029, that will change its trajectory making it hit earth on its next orbit in 2036.

Both NASA and Marquardt agree that if the asteroid does collide with earth, it will create a ball of iron and iridium 320 metres (1049 feet) wide and weighing 200 billion tonnes, which will crash into the Atlantic Ocean.

The shockwaves from that would create huge tsunami waves, destroying both coastlines and inland areas, whilst creating a thick cloud of dust that would darken the skies indefinitely.

The 13-year old made his discovery as part of a regional science competition for which he submitted a project entitled: "Apophis -- The Killer Astroid."
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http://www.physorg.com/news127499715.html

secret_agent_amanda · Apr 15, 2008

Smart kid!

lode · Apr 15, 2008

Eh, I've danced with lady death before.

Bring it on Apophis! Girley name for a asteroid.

lode · Apr 15, 2008

An asteroid rather.

Beckner420 · Apr 15, 2008

I wonder if theres any betting going on.

I'minmyunderwear · Apr 15, 2008

Beckner420 said:

I wonder if theres any betting going on.
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i'll wager $100 that there is

Rock Hard · Apr 15, 2008

Call Harry Stamper!

Don't wanna close my eyes, I don't wanna fall asleep, Coz I'd miss you babe, and I don't wanna miss a thiiiiiing!

C'mon everyone join in

(sorry folks I'm in a daft mood today)

Allonym · Apr 15, 2008

did they name it after the stargate character?

Moon_Unit · Apr 16, 2008

i will bet $500 that it will hit earth and that i wont die

hotwater · Apr 16, 2008

I remember the initial buzz which surrounded the discovery of asteroid 2029A and the terror it evoked until later calculations had it missing the earth by a greater distance than first thought

Hotwater

mitten_kitten · Apr 16, 2008

We will go out like the dinosaurs... Seriously, if it has happened before, it can happen again. We will just have the misfortune of seeing it coming, and knowing what hit us...

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"Apophis -- The Killer Astroid."

crummyrummy Brew Your Own Beer Lifetime Supporter

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lode Banned

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Rock Hard Hard as Rock...BABY

Allonym cheesecake slut

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"Apophis -- The Killer Astroid."

crummyrummy Brew Your Own Beer Lifetime Supporter

secret_agent_amanda Member

lode Banned

lode Banned

Beckner420 troll

I'minmyunderwear Newbie

Rock Hard Hard as Rock...BABY

Allonym cheesecake slut

Moon_Unit Member

hotwater Senior Member Lifetime Supporter

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