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21-12-2007, 02:30 PM
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6000 post club member
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Mars could be hit
Don't know if this has already been posted here at IIS???
But found this while trawling the science 'Wires' at work today:
Mars could be in for an asteroid hit.
US scientists says a newly discovered hunk of space rock has a one in 75 chance of slamming into the Red Planet on January 30.
NASA astronomer .. STEVE CHESLEY says these odds are extremely unusual.
CHESLEY says they know the asteroid will most likely miss mars but there is a possibility of impact.
The asteroid .. known as 2007 WD5 .. was discovered in late November and is similar in size to the Tunguska object that hit remote central Siberia in 1908 .. unleashing energy equivalent to a 15-megaton nuclear bomb that wiped out 60 million trees.
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21-12-2007, 02:34 PM
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Join Date: May 2006
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Wow! way cool!!!! I hope it all works out  cause I'll definetely travel to
clear skies to what that!!!!  ....hmmmmm watch that!!!, even.... 
btw, is that January 30th 2008?
regards,CS
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21-12-2007, 02:35 PM
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I guess so, Rob. It doesn't specify a year...so I'm asuming with Mars being in closer proximity it's based around that being topical??? 
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21-12-2007, 02:40 PM
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1 chance in 75? I think I'll keep my money in my pocket. 
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21-12-2007, 02:41 PM
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That's right! Mars being not too too far away we might be able to observe
an inpact : ))))))))
regards,CS
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21-12-2007, 02:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erick
1 chance in 75? I think I'll keep my money in my pocket. |
A chance in 75 is enough to prick my ears up 
regards,CS
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21-12-2007, 02:44 PM
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Refracted
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21-12-2007, 02:46 PM
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6000 post club member
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Thanks for providing the link
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21-12-2007, 03:04 PM
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Quick - down to Ladbrokes - what odds it'll hit one of the rovers?
"The asteroid's course has now taken it behind Earth's moon, he said, so it will be almost two weeks before observers get another chance to plot its course more accurately."
This confused me, but it must be suggesting that asteroid is tracking same path and speed as the Moon, from our earthbound perspective. I find it hard to believe given how fast the Moon moves relative to the stars??
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21-12-2007, 03:04 PM
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Star Struck
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We're not talking 1 in-a-million chance, we're talking 1 in 75 chance. I think there is a pretty good chance of the Asteroid hitting Mars. Don't you?  
Matt
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21-12-2007, 03:05 PM
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OK, there are 74 out of 75 chances that it won't hit Mars. It'll miss. 
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21-12-2007, 03:34 PM
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Star Struck
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Yes, the odds are stacked against the asteroid hitting Mars. But saying that, it would make a wonderful event to observe.
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21-12-2007, 03:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matty P
it would make a wonderful event to observe.
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Indeed, Matt.
I'd agree that 1 in 75 aren't particularly flash odds...but you never know
It doesn't hurt to dream or wonder
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21-12-2007, 03:51 PM
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wounder how the rovers would fair if it did hit?
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21-12-2007, 04:00 PM
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Reportedly 50m across. If any bits of the rover were found, they would be very flat?
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21-12-2007, 04:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matty P
.......it would make a wonderful event to observe.
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I agree absolutely - a "scientific bonanza" they say.
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21-12-2007, 04:13 PM
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Comet Shoemaker - Levy 9 hitting Jupiter was a thrill I'll never forget!!
It would be fantastic to see. But won't be taking the the chance on a new refractor untill the odds look a little closer.
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21-12-2007, 05:08 PM
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Oh goody!
This will be very interesting!!!!!
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22-12-2007, 06:17 AM
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Dazzled by the Cosmos.
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Could this object be the return of the lost Mars Climate Observer from the 1999 mission, where one team performed their calculations in Imperial Units, the other in SI units?
Cheers
Dennis
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22-12-2007, 07:34 AM
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Support your local RFS
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Amazing stuff and a very interesting link. If it does happen our resident planetary imagers will no doubt have some amazing images to show.
Cheers
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