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Science

Owlet

(1,248 posts)

3. Which begs the question

Reply to pokerfan (Original post)

Sun Mar 4, 2012, 05:31 PM

Mar 2012

just how close to Earth would an asteroid have to be to be drawn in by it's gravitational pull? And just how accurate is this 17,000 mile estimate? This is an event that is 11 months out. Sheesh, they can't even accurately predict the weather here much more than 72 hours in advance. I'm probably displaying my total ignorance of astronomy or astrophysics or whatever, but I'm anything but relieved at this latest information.

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Asteroid 2012 DA14 is almost certainly not going to hit the Earth next February [View all] pokerfan Mar 2012 OP

That's a relief! Kber Mar 2012 #1

I was thinking more along the lines of, "that's ALMOST a relief." Systematic Chaos Mar 2012 #2

I believe the speed of light is 186,000 miles per second. pennylane100 Mar 2012 #3

No, they don't travel at anything like the speed of light muriel_volestrangler Mar 2012 #8

Which begs the question Owlet Mar 2012 #3

Well this posting has certainly brought new information to me about astronomy. pennylane100 Mar 2012 #5

I don't believe it's necessarily as simple as simple proximity pokerfan Mar 2012 #6

Ballistics and atmospheric weather are completely different creatures Posteritatis Mar 2012 #7

It depends on angles and velocity. krispos42 Mar 2012 #13

Damn, guess I'm gonna have to continue paying my mortgage... damyank913 Mar 2012 #9

February 2013, who cares? Thor_MN Mar 2012 #10

150 feet isn't much to worry about anyway Ter Mar 2012 #11

Something that could wreck a city warrants a little concern. (nt) Posteritatis Mar 2012 #12

So they Mayans were off by a few weeks? NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #14