Scientists to place radio transmitter on giant asteroid which endangers li

[lovuian]

http://english.pravda.ru/science/19/94/379/16037_asteroid.html

08/24/2005 11:09
Asteroid may cause Apocalypses on the planet in 2029 or 2036

Many researchers believe that an asteroid may hit the planet any moment. And the statistics states that a celestial body of a football ground size may absolutely destroy the life on the planet once in a thousand of years. American astronomers predict that a 400-meter asteroid will scratch the Earth surface some day in the future.

April 13, 2029 a celestial block which astronomers now call Apophis will pass by the planet at a distance of about one tenth of the distance between the Earth and the Moon. Recently, experts from the Michigan University in Ann Arbor reported that last time an asteroid approached the planet's surface at such a close distance 1,300 years ago.

Asteroid 2004 MN4, now called Apophis, is the closest one to Earth (it is situated about 30,000 km from the Earth center) and has been recently registered in catalogues as numbered 99942. Apophis is the Greek name of Apep, the Egyptian patron of darkness and death; this is a huge serpent living in the ever dark underground world and trying to destroy the Sun during its night passing. The name was given to the asteroid on July 19, 2005.

It is known that some pharaohs of the XV-XVI dynasties were named Aphophis. Today, 99942 Apophis is the only asteroid with the number and a proper name.

Astronomers are currently making observations from various observatories of the planet to define the asteroid orbit and the conditions of its approaching the planet's surface. The data obtained allows astronomers to suppose that the asteroid may hit the planet in 2029. Professor Daniel Schreerer, the head of an astrophysical group, says it is the closest ever predicted flight of a heavenly body above the Earth's surface.

Last year, researchers made a conclusion that the asteroid is one of about 600 heavenly bodies that may be actually dangerous for the planet. According to provisional data, Apophis may once again approach the planet's surface in 2035, 2036 and 2037. It is for the first time over the period of scientific observations that researchers fix the impact of terrestrial gravity upon large asteroids.


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Interesting article!!!

[applegrove]

1. Hmm - just as Rove's 30 GOP dominance ends. I think they should

get Pat Robertson to talk to someone and beg forgiveness for going against the ten commandments.

[delete_bush]

2. hopefully Bruce Willis and Billy Bob will

still be around to save us once again.

[longship]

3. Just as long as they don't take that Steve Buscemi with them.

n/t

[Im_Your_Huckleberry]

9. hey watch it, i like steve buscemi.

[longship]

11. So do I, but in "Armagedden"

he plays his usual "jerk" who messes everything up. You would not want a character like him on a rescue mission to save the earth.

:rofl:

[GeorgeBushytail]

4. And the statistics states that a celestial body of a football ground size

size may absolutely destroy the life on the planet once in a thousand of years."

Haha. This must be the Russian National Enquirer.

[tkmorris]

6. Yep

Their credibility rating dropped to absolute zero with that statement. I have to wonder if the author is engaging willfully in hyperbole or if they are really that stupid.

[LifeDuringWartime]

12. come on, this is pravda

when did it ever have any credibility?

[Canuckistanian]

5. "destroy the life on the planet once in a thousand of years"

By that logic, the planet should have been destroyed a thousand times since man first evolved.

Was this a translated page? I suspect it was badly translated.

[Mairead]

10. The original article was poorly written and had a typo besides

Сухая статистика более конкретна: раз в тысячу лет какое-нибудь небесное тело, примерно размером с футбольное поле, может полностью уничтожить жизнь на планете Земля.

"The dry statistic is more concrete: once in thousand{s} of years some heavenly body, for example of about football-field size, could completely destroy life on Earth"

The 'thousand' should have been 'thousands'. And, of course, while 'thousands' is technically correct, most people would choose the word 'millions' instead.

It sounds a bit hyperbolic, but I'd imagine the knock-on effects of such a thing slamming into earth could indeed get rid of at least the higher-order life forms.

[Canuckistanian]

14. Thanks, I was looking for the original Russian version

"раз в тысячу лет"

That explains the translation, but doesn't completely make sense.

[Mairead]

17. "Raz v tysyachu let"

I'm assuming the author meant to write (or did and it was badly transcribed) 'raz v tysyachikh let'.

[kevin881]

7. pravda is russia's version of the national enquirer.

this is not breaking news. this is yellow journalism.

[lovuian]

8. Pravda is a Russian newspaper and yes the translation sucks

but its more than like Fox News and CNN if you think those are top rated news channels I have some doozy articles they printed and promoted like

There are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq!!!

So you guys are saying there is No asteroid named apophis floating out there with a trajectory path close to Earth!!!

wheres your rpoof please???

[daleo]

13. An asteroid destroys life once every thousand years?

"statistics states that a celestial body of a football ground size may absolutely destroy the life on the planet once in a thousand of years..."

Maybe there really is a flying spaghetti monster.

[magellan]

15. Apophis is coming?

Someone alert SG1, that damn Goa'uld just won't die!!

[rman]

16. Up to 1km diameter = local, regional devestation

http://impact.arc.nasa.gov/torino.cfm



So this statement:
"And the statistics states that a celestial body of a football ground size may absolutely destroy the life on the planet once in a thousand of years."
is entirely inaccurate.

[Xithras]

18. The tinfoilers are gonna love this.

It passes by on a Friday the 13th.
It's named for a god of darkness.
The first three numbers of its ID can be inverted to 666.
The final two numbers were Fox Mulders apartment number on the X-Files.

It looks like George Noory will have no shortage of guests for the next few decades :)

[Celebration]

19. Here's another source

Slightly different take on it

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/050822_asteroid_apophis.html

:-)