Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Asteroid likely to miss Mars

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Science Donate to DU
 
rayofreason Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-13-08 01:16 AM
Original message
Asteroid likely to miss Mars
PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. astronomers in Pasadena, Calif., said it is unlikely that an asteroid will collide with Mars at the end of this month.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology said tracking measurements of asteroid 2007 WD5 from four different observatories indicate a significantly reduced probability -- to .01 percent -- that it will make impact with Mars, effectively ruling out a possible collision with the planet.


http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science/2008/01/12/asteroid_likely_to_miss_mars/2145/

_________________________________________________

Whew! That was a close one!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
Nihil Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-14-08 05:33 AM
Response to Original message
1. Hmmm ...
> The agency's best estimate as of Thursday was that 2007 WD5 will pass
> about 16,000 miles from the planet's center at around 1 p.m. EST on Jan. 30.
>
> "With 99.7 percent confidence, the pass should be no closer than 4,000 km
> (2,485 miles) from the surface," the lab said in a release.

That should perturb 2007WD5's orbit a bit ... methinks someone should be
monitoring that little chap quite closely to ensure that they get their
"estimates" as accurate as possible for where it will end up ...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Ian David Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-14-08 08:56 AM
Response to Original message
2. And how will Bush claim credit for this? n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Thu Oct 31st 2024, 06:21 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Science Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC