Feb 3rd... late I know. - by Brad Schoonmaker
Kolya on 5/2/2007 at 00:54
I don't know much about astronomy but I doubt it's possible that an asteroid passes earth in a distance of 400 meters. If it's that close it will surely crash.
Axiix on 5/2/2007 at 01:19
While it may not hit earth within its first pass it may hit earth during its second due to the effects of gravity on first pass. 99942 Apophis is considered to make a "Near Miss" on the planet in 2029.
Bjossi on 5/2/2007 at 01:26
Quote Posted by Kolya
I don't know much about astronomy but I doubt it's possible that an asteroid passes earth in a distance of 400 meters. If it's that close it will surely crash.
That was exactly my thought. An object that gets too close, like a few thousand kilometers away from the surface; will either be on orbit or get pulled towards the core of the earth, crashing into the surface in other words.
Ultraviolet on 5/2/2007 at 04:37
Does whatever you read indicate that it'll pass within 400 meters of the actual surface of the planet, or that it'll pass within 400 meters of the gravitational point-of-no-return or whatever you'd call it?
Here's hoping for advanced space propulsion or space-based weapons technology in the near future...
DJ Dooms Day on 7/2/2007 at 05:13
Quote Posted by Bjossi
That was exactly my thought. An object that gets too close, like a few thousand kilometers away from the surface; will either be on orbit or get pulled towards the core of the earth, crashing into the surface in other words.
That is of course before you realise that it is entirely possible, ny on definately possible, that gravitational effects have already been calculated into the final sum of a 400 meter 'near-miss'.
