Comments on: The Asteroid That Is Coming Really Close To Earth

By: TERESSA

TERESSA — Fri, 22 May 2015 03:58:44 +0000

BULLSHIT FULL OF LIES I DONT BELIEVE IT THEY ARE TRYING TO SCARED SO DAMN BODY

By: jeremy

jeremy — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:10:53 +0000

If we know the theoretical mass of the object, the trajectory and the acceleration… wouldn’t it be possible to take a defensive stance against this asteroid? Unless we want it to strike earth at some point in the future. If Newtons laws are applied would it not be possible to destroy if not alter the asteroids path by creating an opposite but equal force to oppose this asteroid? I though knowing the stated information above a physicist would be able to calculate the asteroid’s force thereby also being able to calculate a force to repel it away from earth. That is, unless everyone wants it to hit the earth.

By: Casey Withers

Casey Withers — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:00:39 +0000

There is constant motion of millions of objects in the cosmos. Some of these objects being very large planets or asteroids such as the 2012 DA 14. The orbits of the Earth and this asteroid crossing paths for such a long time shows us the reality that natural disasters are very capable of happening through an asteroid hitting the Earth. The studies of the trajectory of these two orbits have made us be able to predict when the asteroid will be the closest to the Earth, and will continue to reveal other important details about 2012 DA 14.

By: Tanner Pfeiffer

Tanner Pfeiffer — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:16:00 +0000

According to NASA Asteroid DA14 will not enter out atmosphere, but will enter our belt of satellites in geostationary orbit (there is a very very slim chance it will hit any of our satellites). DA 14 will be a distance from Earth of only about one-tenth the distance between Earth and moon. Hypothetically speaking, if the asteroid did strike Earth “it would release approximately 2.5 megatons of energy in the atmosphere and would be expected to cause regional devastation. Luckily, we know this will not happen. Scientists at NASA’s Near-Earth Object Program Office in Pasadena, Calif. estimate that an asteroid the size of 2012 DA14 flies this close every 40 years on average and that one will impact Earth, on average, about once in every 1,200 years. The asteroid will be over the Indian Ocean when it makes its quick passing of the Earth.
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/asteroidflyby.html

By: Ashley Morgan

Ashley Morgan — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:09:35 +0000

I am glad that is asteroid 2012 DA 14 is not going to hit the Earth anytime soon. However, it is a little too close for comfort for me and I am sure many others feel the same way. I think that it is going to be very important to keep an eye on this. The last thing we need is for people to get worried that this could end their life. I believe that it will be important for researchers to stay in contact with this asteroid and maybe come up with a plan to fix this problem.

By: Justin Trippe

Justin Trippe — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 06:46:53 +0000

This 2012 DA 14 asteroid brings a new perspective to the thought that Earth is completely safe from outside objects. The fact that this asteroid comes very close to the Earth, closer than the space station and satellites, says a lot about Earth and its susceptibility to foreign objects. Possibly one day an asteroid could have a course for Earth and hit it, but would we be able to stop it? The 2012 DA 14 asteroid lets us study foreign objects more closely and prepare us for a possible collision someday. If it wasn’t for the Spain research crew and its support, they would have never spotted the asteroid and we wouldnt’ be able to observe it on February 15, 2013.

By: Megan Tomkinson

Megan Tomkinson — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:36:00 +0000

So, is this asteroid more likely to come towards us or be shifted away from us in future years? It seems that I have read both ideas. It is quite neat to know how close this asteroid is going to be in a few days, Thank you Kyle for putting that in perspective much better. Also, I can say that it actually makes me quite sad to know that as close as it shall be to us, I won’t get the chance to see it because I am in the wrong region of Earth. If someone could help me with an answer to my original question, I would really appreciate it.

By: Christine Flora

Christine Flora — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 03:46:19 +0000

Conversations of asteroid 2012 DA 14 seem to be popping up everywhere. Some sources say the asteroid will eventually strike the Earth, some sources say that it will never hit the Earth. The article here http://physics.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XK&zTi=1&sdn=physics&cdn=education&tm=1791&f=10&tt=3&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/ has an interview with Donald Yeomans, the head of NASA’s Near Earth Object Program Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He informs us that Earth will actually bump the asteroid into a safer orbit on Friday, than it has been in the past. He also informs us that they’ve been monitoring this asteroid for years. Although this particular asteroid (and it’s proximity to Earth) has sparked many new “doomsday” conversations I do not believe it is anything to fret about. If NASA isn’t worried about it, why should we? However, that doesn’t mean I won’t be keeping an eye out for it. The link to the article above also has instructions & suggestions if you’re planning on making an event of it. Make sure to have binoculars or a small telescope as we will be unable to see it with the naked eye.

By: Joshua White

Joshua White — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 03:45:19 +0000

I read that there is a 0.00034% risk that the asteroid will come into contact with the Earth between 2080 and 2109. Tracking asteroids is an important endeavor seeing as this one is going to come so close to reaching us. I’m thankful that we have the technology to do this.

By: Alison Buckhalter

Alison Buckhalter — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 03:00:16 +0000

When I think of an asteroid I think that it will burn up in the earth’s atmosphere. To me it is strange that the asteroid is orbiting at and angle to the Earths plan. It’s scary to think that some day it will hit Earth but then again I won’t be around decades later when it does. Physics plays a major roll in determining then the asteroid will hit, how hard it will and how much damage will be done. Hopefully buy this time they will know the exact location on there it will hit and be able to clear it out so that not permanent damage is done and also that there is no casualties.