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Astronomers have spied an asteroid that may be heading for Earth (phys.org)

submitted 4 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 4 weeks ago (4 children)

1 in 77 chance, December 2032.

Is there anything we can do to increase that chance, and make it happen sooner?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 weeks ago

Alright everyone, when I say "lean," lean.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 weeks ago

In April 2029 Apophis will also make a swing-by. No collision predicted, but still. Something could knock it slightly off course if we're lucky.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 weeks ago

Right? Hurry up already.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

If we had the ability to direct it away, we could also improve the odds of hitting. Can't make it get here faster though, either way.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

I mean if we had explosions on the surface directly away from us, would that not speed it up?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 weeks ago

Sure. By a few minutes maybe. I won't get into the logistics of trying to set off a controlled directional explosion on a huge rock that's likely rotating. Keep in mind also that getting it here even a minute faster means it has to change its orbit, because Earth won't be in the original impact zone yet.