Asteroid 2009 DD45 Misses Earth
Astronomers are comparing asteroid 2009 DD45 to the rock that caused the Tunguska impact of 1908. The 1908 impact occurred in Siberia near the Tunguska River and destroyed the taiga forest at a distance of twenty five kilometers around the epicenter. The Tunguska impact, which was technically an air burst explosion rather than a ground collision, had the force of a multi-megaton nuclear blast. Had asteroid 2009 DD45 hit a populated area, such as a large city, it would have laid it waste. Had asteroid 2009 DD45 hit the ocean it would have caused a tsunami that would have devastated coastlines.
Astronomers suggest that asteroid 2009 DD45 is now in a solar orbit that intersects the Earth's orbit. That means that asteroid 2009 DD45 will be visiting the vicinity of Earth again.
The near miss of 2009 DD45, which was detected just two or so days before it passed the Earth, illustrates the continuing danger that the Earth faces due to asteroid impacts. Asteroid 2009 DD45 suggests that not only greater efforts should be made to detect and track such asteroids before they become a threat, but strategies should be put into place to divert them should they be found to be on a collision course.
An asteroid 2.5 to 6 miles in length impacted the Earth near the Yucatan 65 million years ago. The Yucatan impact threw up unimaginable amounts of water vapor, dust, and other debris, blotting out the sun for years. It is thought to have rendered most life on Earth, including the dinosaurs, extinct. A similar impact in current times would certainly end human civilization and likely the human species.
The idea of an asteroid hitting the Earth has been popularized in fiction and in cinema, including the 1998 films Armageddon and Deep Impact. Another film along those lines, When Worlds Collide, a remake of a 1950s film based on a 1933 novel, is under development.
One of the missions proposed for the Orion space craft, now under development by NASA, is a visit to an Earth approaching asteroid. Such a mission would examine the characteristics of an Earth approaching asteroid, ascertain suitable strategies for diversion if necessary, and determine techniques for mining such asteroids for natural resources to be used by future space settlers.
Sources: Space Rock Swoops by Earth, Planetary Society, March 2nd, 2009
The Tunguska Riddle: How Powerful was the Greatest Asteroid Impact in Recorded History?, Amir Alexander, Planetary Society, Aril 15th, 2008
An Appreciation of Deep Impact and Armageddon, Mark R. Whittington, Associated Content, January 9th, 2008
When Worlds Collide: The Promise and Peril of Remaking a Classic, Mark R. Whittington, Associated Content, April 24th, 2007
The First Great Deep Space Expedition: Sending the Orion to an Asteroid, Mark R. Whittington, Associated Content, November 29th, 2006
Published by Mark Whittington
Mark R. Whittington is a writer residing in Houston, Texas. He is the author of The Last Moonwalker, Children of Apollo, Dark Sanction, and Nocturne. He has written numerous articles, some for the Washington... View profile
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13 Comments
Post a CommentI agree with you Bible Truth. The only thing religion has contributed is racism and hatred. That is why Jim Jones and David Koresh love the evangelism. Not harsh, just the truth. I.E. Religious zealots seem to know the one truth? ring a bell?
P. Trembeth, The only thing evolution has contributed to is racism and hatred. That is why Hitler and Marx loved the evolutionary theory. Not harsh, just the truth. I.E. Natural selection of favored races in the struggle for life? ring a bell?
Bible Truth, that is certainly some harsh words there, considering science has proven just a tad bit more than fantastical religious beliefs.
It is actually pretty amazing how close this stuff gets, in universal terms. I doubt we really have anything to worry about in statistical terms though. You could always put on some Asteroid Armor from these guys:
http://geddongear.com/AsteroidArmor.aspx
LOL!
Wikipedia has a whole section on Asteroid Defense too, that is pretty interesting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid_deflection_strategies
yes please fund the people that are in place to inform us of when asteroids of this magnitude could hit.i've got 4 weeks of vacation i don't want to waste!
So an asteroid hit earth 65 million years ago? Do you have pictures or a witness to this event. Stop spreading your state sponsored religion i.e. evolution your theory has been disproven
I thought we were already paying half a kazillion bucks for people to find, track, and warn us of dangerous near earth objects. I stand corrected. I guess minor damage depends upon how close the thing lands to YOU.
Do you guys now how long it would take for the asteriod to orbit back to earth?
Does anyone know or figured out where this thing would have hit earth if it had been closer ?
That's a quarter of the distance to the moon! I for one would have liked to at least had the day off from work. T