[meteorite-list] Another end of the world

From: Ryan Darby <RDarby_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:00:09 2004
Message-ID: <1DB1004DCA10D61189740008C7861C7F547271_at_exch.norplats.local>

I just received this - haven't had time to look into it, and I want to go
home and visit the bathroom, not in that order, so I'm just sending it so
please don't get unhappy if its old or junk.



Expert warns of asteroid hit
        
London - A massive asteroid could hit Earth in just 17 years' time,
destroying life as we know it, a British space expert said on Wednesday.
The asteroid - the most threatening object ever detected in space - is 2km
wide and apparently on a direct collision course with Earth.
"Objects of this size only hit the Earth every one or two million years,"
said Dr Benny Peiser, an asteroid expert at Liverpool John Moore's
University in northern England.
"In the worst case scenario, a disaster of this size would be global in its
extent, would create a meltdown of our economic and social life, and would
reduce us to dark age conditions," he said.
But Peiser and other space experts say they are pretty confident this
nightmare scenario will not come about.
"This thing is the highest threat that has been catalogued, but the scale in

terms of the threat keeps changing," said Peter Bond, spokesperson for the
Royal Astronomical Society.
"If it did hit the Earth it would cause a continental-size explosion... but
it is a fairly remote possibility."
The asteroid - named 2002 NT7 - was first detected earlier this month by the

United States Linear sky survey programme.
Since then, Peiser said scientists at the US National Aeronautics and Space
Administration's (Nasa) near-Earth objects team and at Pisa University in
Italy have carried out orbit calculations to work out the probability and
potential date of impact to define the risk it poses.
Their calculations show it could hit the earth on February 1, 2019.
"The impact probability is below one in a million, but because the first
impact date is so early - only 17 years from now - and the object is very
large, it's been rated on the impact risk Palermo Scale as a positive,"
Peiser said. "It is the first object which has ever hit a positive rating."
Scientists warn, however, that the risk rating has not been reviewed by the
International Astronomical Union, which is the main international body
responsible for announcing such risks.
Peiser said 2002 NT7 would continue to be monitored by space experts across
the world, and that over time, these observations would probably erase the
threat posed by it.
"In all likelihood, in a couple of months additional observations will
eliminate this object from the list of potential impacts," he said. "I am
very confident that additional observations over time will... show that it
is actually not on a collision course with Earth."
But he warned that the world should take this as wake-up call and set about
preparing for the reality of an asteroid hit in the future.
"Sooner or later - and no one can really tell us which it will be - we will
find an object that is on a collision course. That is as certain as Amen in
church. And eventually we will have to deflect an object from its collision
course," he said.
At the moment, he added, scientists fear it could take at least 30 years for

the world to be able to devise and set up a mission to deal with such a
threat - a timescale which would be woefully inadequate if the 2019 strike
were to happen.



Ryan Darby
Project Manager
Siemens Business Services (Pty) Ltd.
083 2921656
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Casper [mailto:Michael_at_caspercoin.com]
Sent: 24 July 2002 02:29 PM
To: Robert Verish; Meteorite-list Meteoritecentral
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] LA 002 - Whatz all the fuss?

Thank you Mr. Verish. I hereby state that I want to buy LA 002.

  Regards, Michael Casper


----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Verish <bolidechaser_at_yahoo.com>
To: Meteorite-list Meteoritecentral <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 4:53 AM
Subject: [meteorite-list] LA 002 - Whatz all the fuss?


> Didn't catch the LA 002 thread until late. Tonight
> was spent in preparation for our presentation at UCLA
> for tomorrow morning's Session of the 65th Annual
> Meeting of the Meteoritical Society. Nick Gessler,
> (along with Rob Matson and myself) will be presenting
> what signifies as being our combined, past 3 years of
> meteorite recovery efforts in the Southwestern U.S.
>
> So, obviously I have no intention of entering into a
> lengthy discussion about LA 002, right now.
>
> But in regards to Michael Bloods post about the
> preservation of LA 002 - YES, I did publicly express
> my desires to not have LA 002 cut (for ESTHETIC
> reasons), but this is an evolving issue, and for
> anyone who progresses within their study of
> meteorites, there comes a time "when a corner is
> turned" and comes the realization that meteorites
> exist in order to be cut! That meteorites made the
> long journey to our planet for the explicit purpose
> that they be cut, not only so that they can be
> analyzed, but in order that their interior beauty can
> be exposed.
>
> YES, I know. I have taken some List members to task
> for the their "devout" attitudes towards "never"
> cutting their favorite meteorite "never for ANY
> reason", especially when that attitude is taken to the
> point of alienating researchers and risking our
> tenuous relationship with them. Having taken that
> position, how then can I take the attitude that LA 002
> should never again undergo the blade?
>
> No longer do I presume to withhold from researchers
> and the science of meteoritics THAT which would
> advance our understanding of Mars, our own planet, and
> the Solar System. Certainly, not for the reason that
> "it's too beautiful". Certainly, not in this age of
> advancing technology, now that we can core and extract
> samples sufficiently large enough for analysis, yet
> small enough that a meteorites form is not
> compromised. (Besides, I've seen the museum's exact
> replica of LA 002. It is a PERFECT replica! Now,
> THAT is a real work of art that needs preservation.
> In addition, I have the mold from which more replicas
> can be made.;-)
>
> But if you don't agree with my philosophy about
> cutting meteorites, and if you are such a
> preservationist that you feel obliged to rescue LA 002
> (for sure, the Museum had their chance but they passed
> in favor of much needed renovations), then feel free
> to make me an offer. There is no barrier or
> restriction that would prevent you from doing just
> that - make me an offer for LA 002. I will
> respectfully consider all legitimate offers. But
> before I accept any offer, I will make good on my
> promise to Michael Casper, that "in consideration of
> his keeping of his word and of the faithful execution
> of all the many aspects involved in the sale of LA
> 001", that I would extend to him the opportunity to,
> either, make the "last" (or final) offer in the sale
> of LA 002, or, to pass on that opportunity.
>
> No big, complex mystery - just a simple explanation.
>
> Bob V.
>
>
> __________________________________________________
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>
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>


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Received on Wed 24 Jul 2002 11:55:38 AM PDT