What will you be doing in 17 years?????

[dumboiu]

LONDON (July 24) - A massive asteroid could hit Earth in just 17 years' time, destroying life as we know it, a British space expert said on Wednesday.

The asteroid -- the most threatening object ever detected in space -- is 1.2 miles wide and apparently on a direct collision course with Earth.

"Objects of this size only hit the Earth every one or two million years," said Dr Benny Peiser, an asteroid expert at Liverpool John Moore's University in northern England.

"In the worst case scenario, a disaster of this size would be global in its extent, would create a meltdown of our economic and social life, and would reduce us to dark age conditions," he told Reuters.

But Peiser and other space experts say they are pretty confident this nightmare scenario will not come about.

"This thing is the highest threat that has been catalogued, but the scale in terms of the threat keeps changing," said Peter Bond, spokesman for the Royal Astronomical Society.

"If it did hit the Earth it would cause a continental-size explosion...but it is a fairly remote possibility."

The asteroid -- named 2002 NT7 -- was first detected earlier this month by the United States Linear sky survey program.

Since then, Peiser said scientists at the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) near-Earth objects team and at Pisa University in Italy have carried out orbit calculations to work out the probability and potential date of impact to define the risk it poses.

Their calculations show it could hit the earth on February 1, 2019.

"The impact probability is below one in a million, but because the first impact date is so early -- only 17 years from now -- and the object is very large, it's been rated on the impact risk Palermo Scale as a positive," Peiser said. "It is the first object which has ever hit a positive rating."

Scientists warn, however, that the risk rating has not been reviewed by the International Astronomical Union, which is the main international body responsible for announcing such risks.

Peiser said 2002 NT7 would continue to be monitored by space experts across the world, and that over time, these observations would probably erase the threat posed by it.

"In all likelihood, in a couple of months additional observations will eliminate this object from the list of potential impacts," he said. "I am very confident that additional observations over time will...show that it is actually not on a collision course with Earth."

But he warned that the world should take this as wake-up call and set about preparing for the reality of an asteroid hit in the future.

"Sooner or later -- and no one can really tell us which it will be -- we will find an object that is on a collision course. That is as certain as "Amen" in church. And eventually we will have to deflect an object from its collision course," he said.

At the moment, he added, scientists fear it could take at least 30 years for the world to be able to devise and set up a mission to deal with such a threat -- a timescale which would be woefully inadequate if the 2019 strike were to happen.

[Kitty 34]

That's weird you are asking this because I just heard that on CNN and asked the EXACT question to my 22 yr. old DS. He shrugged his shoulders and said 'I dunno'.:rolleyes: That's youth for you......takin' day at a time!!! LOL

[nativetxn]

Interesting, I don't I'm going to worry all that much just yet, though ;)

[dumboiu]

Originally posted by nativetxn
Interesting, I don't I'm going to worry all that much just yet, though ;)

Well.........I think we should at least "think" about it...........since if the possibility of a catastrophe is real, then we have 17 years to figure out how to avert it...............

[Dan Murphy]

I recall the early 50's movie, When Worlds Collide, when Bellus and Zyra were on a collision course with earth. One of my favorite movies from then. They built a spaceship to escape to a new world.



http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/images/64ramp.jpg


It seems as though the scientists are not that concerned about this one though. At least from reading the above.

[amid chaos]

Good...i'll be watching it from a chair at the beach with my drink in my hands.

[helenabear]

I guess I am not too worried about this one either... they said it was a small possibility and possibly in a few months some one will recalculate this and find out it will miss the earth by millions of miles.

[cotye]

AUGH! :eek: I just keep thinking about those movies with asteroids.... Deep Impact and such. Wonder if we need people to go up there and plant nukes on the thing. :D

[WDWfanatic288]

"In the worst case scenario, a disaster of this size would be global in its extent, would create a meltdown of our economic and social life, and would reduce us to dark age conditions," he told Reuters.


he sounds calm!


yeah I was thinking about Armageddon...I need to see Deep Impact...well maybe not!

[addicted_to_WDW]

I'm not worried about it...some things are beyond our control.

Amid Chaos...save a chair for me. :)

[ChiTownZee]

They just need to call Bruce Willis!

[browneyes]

Let's see. In 17 years, I'll be 49. Hopefully I'll be living in Cindy's Castle by then.;)

The astroid can just stay away.:mad:

[Amy]

OMG! I just realized in 17 years I'll be 60!!!! :rolleyes: Not sure I want to think about that.........

[Serena]

Well, by then either we will know it's on a collision course, or it's not. We will also know whether we would be able to deflect it or not.
Considering that I'm not in politics, the military or any science industries, it won't do much good for me to worry.

You know, that was so easy to say and type, and it makes sense, but I know me. When the time comes, I'll probably be a basket case. lol

[eeyore0062]

Hopefully I will be living in Florida and working at WDW. I am not going to sit here and worry about something the "might" happen 17 years from now! By then, they may have enough time to figure out how to break it up and deflect it.

[travelbug24]

Also, the Mayan people who had a very precise calendar for their time stops at 2017 which some believe means the end of the world so if the asteriod hits in 2019 we won't be here anyway.

[SPAGo 98]

haha cool. :D

[JohnTBap]

Originally posted by ChiTownZee
They just need to call Bruce Willis!

I'll call him - got his number on speed dial!

[Pin Wizard]

I'm more worried about being 60 in 17 years! Yikes!! :earseek:

[danacara]

Beam me up, Scotty! Maybe Spago and I will go blow this up for you all. We'll be in our late thirties - in our primes!

[Tuffcookie]

Well, that figures! That's about the time I'm going to retire!!! There goes my pension and social security!:rolleyes:

TC

[Blondie]

One of the very reasons I live for the here and now!

You just never know, one day your sitting in your LazyBoy recliner, minding your own business and WHAM!

Life as you know it is over.

If it does hit, I hope it lands right on my house because I don't want to be around for the 'dark ages!' No thanks!

I'm pretty sure that the gov't. spends good money for scientists to figure ways to get rid of bothersome life ending asteroids.

Ask me in another 10 years!

[RobInBigKC]

:eek: Now less than 12 years to go people! :scared1:

-- Rob

[Laugh O. Grams]

What will I be doing in 17 years? Well until 5 minutes ago, I figured I'd be enjoying my early retirement, but now, I've penciled in perishing in a catastrophic asteroid collision...thanks for the news...

C'mon, everyone, don't be shy, sing along:

"Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is"

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I was reading that article thinking "Somebody needs a lesson in basic math if they think 2019 minus 2007 is 17 yrs". Then I saw the date of the OP. :rotfl:

[Boo'sMom]

wow.....lots of names that have dropped off the face of the DIS :sad:

[Buckalew11]

wow.....lots of names that have dropped off the face of the DIS :sad:


Like a blast from the past, huh?! on a post about a blast in the future! :lmao:

[PirateKitty]

Better go out and stock up on duct tape and canned goods. :rotfl: Remember Y2K? I'm not going to worry about this either...

[mickeysgal]

What will I be doing in 17 years? Either I'll be at WDW enjoying Disney's newest fireworks display ala mega-asteroid or sitting here on the DIS.

Lets try to keep this thread going for the next 17 years.

[Virgo10]

I'm way more concerned about Apophis which, on Friday the 13th, 2029, will pass below the altitude of our own satellites (about 22,000 miles). It is suppose to miss us during that go round but there's a 1 in 45,000 chance it could nail us on April 13th (also a Friday) in 2036.

They really don't know what will happen because of the effects the earth, moon, etc may have on its trajectory. Certainly something to keep informed about though.

[mattsdragon]

Yeah, 17 years from now isn't good for me, I have a meeting that day.

[scanne]

Um, isn't this why George Lucas wrote the Star Wars movies? Just send some pilots out there to blow the thing up and there won't be any problem. Ha ha.

[Kitty 34]

:eek: Now less than 12 years to go people! :scared1:

-- Rob

I wonder if I'll still be DISing.:surfweb:

[MUFFYCAT]

17 years from now?
Hopefully retired, no mortgage and kids out of the house. :cool1:
Just when life will be good and relaxing the world will end.
I can't win. :rolleyes:

[RobInBigKC]

17 years from now?
Hopefully retired, no mortgage and kids out of the house. :cool1:
Just when life will be good and relaxing the world will end.
I can't win. :rolleyes:
:lmao: :rotfl2: :lmao:

-- Rob

[Blueeyes101817]

I was reading that article thinking "Somebody needs a lesson in basic math if they think 2019 minus 2007 is 17 yrs". Then I saw the date of the OP. :rotfl:

i was confused too til i saw your post!

[stinkerbelle's mom]

Their calculations show it could hit the earth on February 1, 2019.



Well apparently I'd better start planning for the biggest 16th birthday party ever! My youngest dd will turn 16 on 1/31/2019 so that party better be out of this world!!!::yes:: :thumbsup2

Seriously I'd like to think we would have created something to destroy it by then or reduce its impact. :confused3

[ducklite]

I'll be going about my life. We could get hit by an asteroid. You could have a goose fly into your windshield and kill you this afternoon. You could plug in your toaster and have an electrical malfunction kill you while you're making breakfast. You could have an ingrown toenail become infected and kill you with a massive systemic drug-resistant staph infection. You could eat dinner and get e Coli and die. You could trip and fall while carrying a sharp object and impale your heart and die almost instantly. You could have an anuerysm while you drink your coffee.

I believe when it's your time, it's your time. I'm not standing in front of oncoming trains, but I'm also not spending my days fretting about what might happen.

And BTW--didn't Disney already make this movie? Something about a Rusian Space Station, an atomic bomb, and a really hot astronaut who gets the girl in the end? :confused3

Anne

[Kitty 34]

I'll be going about my life. We could get hit by an asteroid. You could have a goose fly into your windshield and kill you this afternoon. You could plug in your toaster and have an electrical malfunction kill you while you're making breakfast. You could have an ingrown toenail become infected and kill you with a massive systemic drug-resistant staph infection. You could eat dinner and get e Coli and die. You could trip and fall while carrying a sharp object and impale your heart and die almost instantly. You could have an anuerysm while you drink your coffee.

I believe when it's your time, it's your time. I'm not standing in front of oncoming trains, but I'm also not spending my days fretting about what might happen.

And BTW--didn't Disney already make this movie? Something about a Rusian Space Station, an atomic bomb, and a really hot astronaut who gets the girl in the end? :confused3

Anne

Actually I know what you're talking about as far as the ingrown toenail. I was extremely sick for over six weeks with a staph infection which even got into the bone. It was horrible.:sick: