Asteroid Apophis To Strike Earth?

A 270 million ton asteroid called Apophis could make quite a dent in the Earth when if comes for a visit on April 13, 2036. Though it is not quite the apocalyptic event that some are portraying, it potentially could be a tad ugly, with the potential to kill millions and cause chaos across the world.

Opinions vary on if/when Apophis might make an appearance. The 885ft (270m) wide Apophis, traveling at 23,000mph (37,000kph), could crash into Earth according to Russian astronomical predictions. However NASA is predicting the likelihood of an impact at 250,000-to-one, which means, according to them, Apophis is not going to strike Earth.





If Apophis were to impact Earth, NASA’s estimate is that the impact will release energy equivalent to a 510 megaton nuclear explosion, compared to the Siberian Tunguska event which was around 10 megaton, and the Krakatoa volcanic eruption which was nearer 200 megatons. Putting it into perspective, Apophis may be deadly to millions of people or create enormous tsunamis but is not “Armageddon”, though it could still devastate thousands of square kilometers.

Perhaps worse than a single impact would be if Apophis actually broke up into smaller pieces, so its impact sites would be much more widely spread.

If you were wondering where to hide come April 2036, NASA has predicted a likely path across Earth in 2036 which takes Apophis across southern Russia, the north Pacific (California, Mexico, Nicaragua and Costa Rica), crossing northern Colombia and Venezuela, and into the Atlantic and just off the coast of Africa. An ocean impact is possible, which would result in an enormous tsunami.



Astronomers will update their predictions over the next 25 years, and will likely know for certain the impact probability when Apophis passes by Earth on a close approach (still 5 times the radius of the Earth, 37,000-38,000kms, 23,000-23,600 miles) on April 13 2029, an encounter that could modify its trajectory, either guaranteeing an impact or ensuring it misses. The path is almost exactly the orbit altitude for geo-synchronous satellites, which perhaps puts it in perspective (it’s very close for such a large asteroid!).

Both NASA and Russia scientists are also investigating ways to deflect a large asteroid, but nothing like this has ever been attempted before. If it were concluded in 2029, or earlier, that Apophis would impact Earth, then various ideas have been proposed to deflect its path, from the use of nuclear weapons to covering part of it with heat reflective or absorbent material. The nuclear explosions would break-up the asteroid into smaller pieces (which may not be the best idea!), to assisting the Sun’s energy to boil off part of the asteroid using the heat reflective or absorbent material, thereby pushing it away from a collision with Earth.



Asteroid 'Apophis' -




If we do not act for them in 2029 may be too late ...



*No fake, No fake!*



Everything from History channel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyY6D3lkzBw


No planet Nibiru exist, it really confirmed today in my country, Lithuania. Now we need worried about asteroid 'Apophis'.

This is quite interesting as they have predicted a lot of shit coming to us this century. Back in 2004 I read that a asteroid would hit us somewhere around 2049. I doubt it as it's a possible chance that the asteroid can pass our planet and hit the sun for instance. Or maybe the gravity of jupiter would take it out of it's course. Or maybe even towards us. However there's always a chance that it may just fly over our planet and out into space again. Lots of possible outcomes. But personaly I think that this is just gibberish that we will die. If it were coming towards us we may have a way to get rid of it. Maybe just make it into smaller pieces and make it melt in our atmosphere. Maybe we could nuke it? Don't know but I don't believe we will be hit by any asteroids. Atleast not in our lifetimes.

Current estimates are 1 in 250,000 chance of a strike. Not since 04 has people actually thought that Apophis was a real threat.

well,that's 25 years from now by that time NASA should have a idea for it.

Still I hardly believe something as catastrophic as an asteroid will occur this century atleast. I doubt it is a real treat still until I can see it coming towards us with my very own eyes.

dude as as long as we can keep Bruce Willis alive, we should have no problem with 'killer' asteroids

Silly thread, closed