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Tue Oct 21, 2014, 03:24 PMStar Member WillyT (58,669 posts)Well... This Is ****ing Par For The Course... Our Priorities Are So Screwed Up...Earth at risk after cuts close comet-spotting program, scientists warnThe Guardian/RawStory21 Oct 2014 at 00:53 ETThe Earth has been left with a huge blind spot for potentially devastating comet strikes after the only dedicated comet-spotting program in the southern hemisphere lost its funding, leading astronomers have warned.The program, which discovered the Siding Spring comet that narrowly missed Mars on Sunday, was shut down last year after losing funding.“It’s a real worry,†Bradley Tucker, an astronomer at the Australian National University (ANU) and University of California Berkeley, told Guardian Australia. “There could be something hurtling towards us right now and we wouldn’t know about it.â€The Siding Spring survey – named after the observatory near Coonabarabran in central New South Wales, where the Mars comet was first spotted – was the only program in the southern hemisphere actively searching for potentially hazardous comets, asteroids and meteors.Celestial objects that pass within 7.4m kilometres of the earth, or which are more than 150 metres in diameter, are considered potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs). There are 1,508 known cases. The most famous asteroid to have struck the Earth landed in Mexico about 65m years ago, and is believed to have caused or contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs.A 20-metre meteor entered the Earth’s atmosphere undetected in 2013 and exploded spectacularly about 30km above Chelyabinsk in Russia, injuring 1,500 people. “It’s essentially like a nuclear bomb going off in the atmosphere,†Tucker said. “These things can do inconceivable damage.â€The Nasa-funded Australian survey discovered more than 15 objects, and was led by Dr Robert McNaught, a Scottish-Australian scientist credited with discovering about 475 asteroids and about 82 comets, including the Siding Spring comet – more than any other astronomer.<snip>More: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/10/earth-at-risk-after-cuts-close-comet-spotting-program-scientists-warn/
Response to WillyT (Original post)Tue Oct 21, 2014, 03:31 PMLouisiana1976 (3,744 posts)4. I agree 100%--our priorities are screwed up. That comet and meteor spotting project should have itsfunding restored or the Earth is ****ed.
Response to WillyT (Original post)Tue Oct 21, 2014, 03:30 PMmalthaussen (5,109 posts)2. What are we gonna do, dodge?I mean, if something's gonna hit us, there's not a lot we can do about it. I've got nothing against comet-watching in principle, and we spend peanuts on science as it is, so cutting their bread is idiotic, but I don't see that we're at greater "risk" thanks to this. Does every goddam special interest in the universe have to scream "we're all gonna DIE!!!!" when the slop-trough goes dry?-- Mal
Ted Kennedy is the only person with an actual confirmed kill in the war on women.
We might get hit by a comet, but at least NASA has a Muslim outreach program.Barack Obama, mmm mmm mmm!
Response to malthaussen (Reply #2)Tue Oct 21, 2014, 03:54 PMStar Member jeff47 (13,456 posts)8. No, we make it dodge.All you have to do is apply thrust to the comet or asteroid so that it misses Earth.The earlier you spot it, the easier it is to do - you just need a gentle nudge if impact is decades away. You need a mega****ton of thrust if impact is a week away.
Look, as an expert (I play Kerbal Space Program), I know a thing or two about comets and meteors. And that's absolutely nothing. But, I can put my ship into an almost circular orbit around Kerbin.
I played Space Invaders once.
I played Space Invaders once
And of course, the USA (who the DUmmies seem to think SUCK at everything) is the only one who can fund such a project and save all of humanity?KC
One would think that the RUSSIANS - who, by my count have been hit by TWO of these bad boys in the past century or so - would have a vested interest (if anybody does) in taking the lead on funding this "research" program the DUmbshits are screaming for. If they don't care enough to pony up for it, I fail to see why it should come out of MY pocket.
Well at least we won't die from global warming.cindie
