We are all going to die! Asteroid to hit Earth on March 21, 2014

[IndianaGreen]

Asteroid warning for 2014

The British agency responsible for identifying potentially hazardous asteroids says US astronomers are warning of a possible collision in 2014.

The UK Government's Near Earth Object Centre says American astronomers have discovered a large, fast-approaching asteroid that could hit the earth on 21 March, 2014.

But they add the chances of it doing so are just 1 in 909,000.

What is more, any risk of an impact is likely to decrease as further data is gathered, they say.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3200019.stm

[Valerie5555]

1. wonder if then again it could be *'s cynical little "Wag The Asteroid"

plot. Anything for a distraction. <sigh>

[devarsi]

2. No Sweat

The Mayan calendar ends on Dec 21st, 2012, we're doomed a full year in advance!

I don't think we'll be around to see this asteroid :eyes:

[IndianaGreen]

5. Since we know the exact date of Armageddon, and soon will know...

the precise time and location of impact, we could dedicate ourselves to do all of the things we were always afraid to do. All we need is a couple of minutes for repentance, right?

:grouphug:

[devarsi]

10. Yep

Better late than never, as Jesus always said.

(Was that Jesus that said that?)

[aquart]

And the Mayans knew what, exactly?

[proud patriot]

12. Math

pretty good at it to .

[devarsi]

16. Hey, no Mayan bashing here!

The Mayans were excellent astronomers, had a complex written language, understood mathematics, and developed a pretty accurate calendar. Not bad for stone agers!

Also, the Mayans were able to pronounce and spell really tough words like Yaxche, Tzuultaq'ah, Quetzacoatal, and Yum Kaax.

Pretty serious people, I guess...

:-)

[Art_from_Ark]

30. I don't know if they actually "spelled" these words

since their writing system was based on hieroglyphics, but they did have a thing about numbers. And they certainly qualify as "post-stone-agers", having developed one of the three (so far) recognized civilizations of the pre-Columbian Americas.

As far as their calendar ending on a certain day goes, well, they could just as easily have decided that that was as far as they wanted to go. Even the "perpetual calendar" in my World Almanac only goes up to 2080:-)

[devarsi]

36. You took me too seriously

but thats...ok.

Still, the Mayans had no metal tools to speak of, so regardless of when the civilization flourished, I believe that this qualifies them as stone age.

Regarding the calendar's end date on 12/21/12, the Mayan calendar (rather, 13-baktun cycle of the Mayan Long Count) reaches its end point. Currently, we are in what can be considered as a countdown to that date, as opposed to an accumulation of time which finds an arbitrary ending. This is where it get's pretty cool!

At the end of the countdown, an incredibly significant event happens regarding Mayan philosophy and astronomy, when the Winter Soltice Sun conjuncts the so called "Sacred Tree." The Sacred Tree representing the intersection of the Milky Way and the plane of the ecliptic.

The Milky Way extends in a rough north-south directional in the night sky, and the plane of the ecliptic is the track the Sun, Moon, planets and stars appear to travel in the sky, from east to west.

So, when the point where the north-south track of the stars crosses the east-west track of the sun, moon, and planets conjuncts with the Winter Soltice, the Mayan calendar ends.

Not really random as all that, eh?

BTW - I was joking about the words.

[Forkboy]

3. I'd feel sad for all the good people who'd die

but I'd kind of welcome it for myself.

Hell,maybe then I'd be out of debt :shrug:

[Maple]

4. Oh c'mon people!

Everyone depressed tonight or what??

[devarsi]

6. Nope, not depressed

just equal parts sceptical, cynical, and sarcastic.

Sorry :-)

[Robin Hood]

8. lol..

It's time to party like it's 2014.

[IndianaGreen]

9. I you lived in Indiana

you'll be depressed about the floods. We had 8 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. Needless to say, I had water coming inside the house and we had to scramble to save our electronic stuff.

Rain has stopped and the water has resceded. I hope we don't have another monsoon like we did today!

I am doing good compared to many fellow Hoosiers!

[PsychoDad]

17. Here at the Psychodad compond in S. Indiana....

We stayed inside and enjoyed the break from the opressive heat of the last week. The front yard is covered with water and the rain was on and off all day, so we had to scrub the Labor Day BBQ. ( A real BBQ, not catered like that sissy boy in texas ).

Stay safe and dry I.G. Hope the rain breaks for you and things dry up.

[Andy_Stephenson]

29. Damn and I thought I had something to be

depressed about. My thoughts are for dry weather fer you.

[legin]

34. Sorry to hear it IG

:evilfrown:

[Forkboy]

26. What do you mean by "tonight"?

:)

[Andy_Stephenson]

27. Raises Hand!

I'm depressed. Whats even more depressing is...I know what is depressing me. For a plethora of reasons. An asteroid hit...that figures. Just when you thought things could not get any worse. Badda Bing, Badda BOOOM!

[shance]

7. I specifically asked them not to schedule March 21st for the asteroid

to arrive.

I have my yoga class that day, a manicure/pedicure at 10:00, and lunch which will take up part of the afternoon. And then picking up the kids at 4:00, well there you have it, my day is shot.

In a nutshell, there is just too much going on that day and after taking a look at my daily planner, it would be impossible to change my appointments.

Wheres my mobile? they're going to have to reschedule.

[Webster Green]

11. Um....

seems to me that the risk of an impact is just as likely to increase as further data is gathered.

[Paschall]

13. Run that by me again

The British agency responsible for identifying hazardous asteroids...

Got a fax from US astronomers warning of a possible collision with an asteroid...

The risk of impact is likely to decrease as further data is gathered...

And as further faxes are received...

Where is this asteroid currently? Nigeria?

[Zhade]

39. Nigeria!

Good thing I wasn't drinking. I like my computer dry! :)

[xJlM]

14. Doesn't the Mayan calendar end in 2014?

It seems as if I've heard this same prediction a few times.

On edit: I guess it was 2012. Somehow I was thinking that was a Canadian rock song, or something...

[proud patriot]

15. My son graduates high school that year

I hope ..

[leftchick]

38. my son too proud!

I hope... :scared:

[Valerie5555]

18. Oh well to look on the bright side

if it's true we at least wouldn't have to worry about a Bush Dynasty at least BEYOND that year, (provided if Shrubkin actually WINS in 2004 and Jebbie actually succeeded him, which I HOPE will NOT happen)

[Julien Sorel]

19. Damn terra-ist asteroids!

Terrible pun in the spelling error, couldn't resist...

[Clete]

20. So now that you know how to to headlines like

Rupert Murdoch does, what is so astounding that anyone who reads even the most populus of Science magazines doesn't know?

[dweller]

21. I have 11 years, + or -

to get ready?

okay, wake me at 6 am tomorrow. I'm on it.
I'm a 'works well under pressure' kind of guy.

dp

'

[devarsi]

22. Has Anyone Called Bruce Willis?

or maybe even Ben Affleck?

just wonderin...

[wtmusic]

23. ROFLMAO

"What is more, any risk of an impact is likely to decrease as further data is gathered, they say."

Apparently someone feels that collective karma can shift the trajectory of a quadrillion tons of rock...or they need to brush up on their probability theory.

[Not a robought]

24. does this mean we get a new continent?

Sign me up for the new founding nation. Just no religious puritanism this time around 'kay?

[shance]

28. Yes and with that, you also receive a BRAND NEW CAR!!***

and Janet from the Price is Right will deliver it straight to your door....

oh wait, not Janet, she got fired.

[Shanty Oilish]

25. QQ 47

"It has been labelled '2003 QQ 47'..."

I just saw it Saturday. It's a 1934 Deusenberg.

[dweller]

31. With no engine

but hey, we're headed downhill!!

Wheeeeeeee!

dp

[WillyT]

32. Oh, That's Just Great !!! --- Right Before My Retirement !!!

Is this Cheney's doing!!!

:mad::tinfoilhat::mad:

[wtmusic]

33. It's Clinton's fault!

DOD stats show his orgasm with Monica shifted the earth .000031967 arcseconds out of alignment, directly into the path of a fucking death star! C'mon now--compared to that, Iraq is tiddlywinks!

[redeye]

35. 1 in 909,000...

...your chance of getting murdered in the USA is 1 in 70,000 every year. So please, IndianaGreen, be rational about this.

[TreasonousBastard]

37. Just my luck...

I'll win the lottery and a date with Jenna Jameson that week.

Karma, man, there's a downside...