- #1
Harut82
- 19
- 0
Last edited by a moderator:
It's called Apophis. It's 390m wide. And it could hit Earth in 31 years time
Scientists call for plans to change asteroid's path Developing technology could take decades
Alok Jha
Wednesday December 7, 2005
The Guardian
In Egyptian myth, Apophis was the ancient spirit of evil and destruction, a demon that was determined to plunge the world into eternal darkness.
A fitting name, astronomers reasoned, for a menace now hurtling towards Earth from outerspace. Scientists are monitoring the progress of a 390-metre wide asteroid discovered last year that is potentially on a collision course with the planet, and are imploring governments to decide on a strategy for dealing with it.
Nasa has estimated that an impact from Apophis, which has an outside chance of hitting the Earth in 2036, would release more than 100,000 times the energy released in the nuclear blast over Hiroshima. Thousands of square kilometres would be directly affected by the blast but the whole of the Earth would see the effects of the dust released into the atmosphere.
Yes, it is possible to change an asteroid's path through a variety of methods such as using a spacecraft to collide with the asteroid, using a gravitational tractor to slowly alter its trajectory, or detonating a nuclear bomb near the asteroid to alter its course. However, the success and effectiveness of these methods depend on the size and composition of the asteroid.
Asteroids can pose a potential threat to Earth if they are on a collision course. By changing their path, we can prevent potential catastrophic impacts and protect our planet.
The amount of time needed to change an asteroid's path depends on its size, speed, and distance from Earth. Generally, the earlier we detect an asteroid and plan to change its path, the more time we have to implement the necessary measures.
Changing an asteroid's path can be a complex and risky task, especially if it involves a nuclear detonation. There is a possibility that the asteroid may break into smaller pieces, making it more difficult to predict its path. There is also a risk of debris from the asteroid causing damage to surrounding areas. It is important to carefully consider all potential risks and plan accordingly.
Various organizations such as NASA, the European Space Agency, and international collaborations are involved in planning and implementing asteroid deflection methods. Governments and space agencies around the world work together to monitor and track potentially hazardous asteroids and develop strategies to mitigate any potential threats.