I'm Officially Leaving This Place Forever

[Mrs. Sawyer]

And Earth too if they're wrong about this asteroid.

(CNN) -- A newly discovered asteroid will pass "very close" to Earth on Sunday, NASA says.


The space rock is estimated to be 60 feet (18 meters) long. It's expected to fly over New Zealand about 2:18 p.m. EDT (11:18 a.m. PDT / 18:18 UTC.)
It won't hit Earth or any of the thousands of satellites orbiting the planet, NASA says. It will give astronomers and scientists a chance to study it.

Could we really capture an asteroid?

The asteroid won't be visible the naked eye, but amateur astronomers should be able to see it with telescopes.


Called 2014 RC, the asteroid was discovered on August 31 by the Catalina Sky Survey near Tucson, Arizona.


NASA's Near Earth Object Program estimates there are thousands of asteroids that could threaten Earth, but experts say none of the ones being tracked are expected to hit the planet anytime soon.


Sometimes, though, space rocks sneak by the scientists and amateur astronomers who track them. On February 15, 2013, a nearly 60-foot-wide meteor plunged into Earth's atmosphere and exploded over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk with the force of about 30 nuclear bombs. The blast injured about 1,500 people.


The Chelyabinsk meteor was undetected before it was spotted by local residents as it streaked across the sky. It exploded on the same day that Asteroid 2012 DA14, one that was being carefully tracked by NASA, safely passed by Earth.


NASA is trying to speed up the way it tracks potentially hazardous asteroids and to learn how to deflect rocks that threaten Earth. Its Asteroid Initiative includes a plan to capture an asteroid and tug it into orbit around the moon in the 2020s. If it works, astronauts will land on the asteroid, take samples and bring them back to Earth.

Somebody call Ben Affleck.

 

[Schlosser85]

60 feet isn't that big.

 

[Morg]

60 feet isn't that big.

I'm sure the Russians would disagree

 

[OriginalMiles]

Are we gonna die?

 

[Guts]

Only the people that live above ground.

 

[OriginalMiles]

Oh, that's good then.

I hope they're not wrong.

 

[Enriquespy]

Off topic: I love Parker Wayne's avatar.

 

[Kane52630]

But I'm gonna miss Boardwalk Empire's season premiere!

 

[Pink Ranger]

But I'm gonna miss Boardwalk Empire's season premiere!

You're not going to miss much. The episode ends with an asteroid hitting the Earth.

 

[Duke]

Hey PW, "If You gotta go, go with a smile".

 

[Breogan]

NASA is trying to speed up the way it tracks potentially hazardous asteroids and to learn how to deflect rocks that threaten Earth. Its Asteroid Initiative includes a plan to capture an asteroid and tug it into orbit around the moon in the 2020s. If it works, astronauts will land on the asteroid, take samples and bring them back to Earth.

If they can do this, awesome!
[YT]K4IBW4XuUFo[/YT]

 

[GunBlade]

It's roughly the size of a house. We'll be okay.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

We could have a mobile asteroid station someday. 2040's, maybe.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

I hope they are not wrong about the asteroid not hitting anything
I'll miss Parka-Sawyer shenanigans

 

[squeekness]

I'm not ready to die.

 

[The Original Bamfer]

Damn misleading bait title.

 

[Immortalfire]

Dang, I had high hopes when I saw this thread title.

Anyhow, a 60 foot rock would burn up in the atmosphere.

 

[PWN3R]

**360 shot of Parker Wayne slowly rising from a crouched position**

 

[Sawyer]

Dang, I had high hopes when I saw this thread title.

Anyhow, a 60 foot rock would burn up in the atmosphere.

 

[The Original Bamfer]

I said it first!

 

[Aesop Rocks]

Coming in this thread like

 

[Sawyer]

I said it first!

Yeah, but that's to be expected.

 

[The Original Bamfer]

Yeah, but that's to be expected.

Sue me for wanting my ass***ishness (that's a really strange pseudo-word to self-censor ) to be recognized!!!

 

[Howlett]

Don't worry, I got this. If it gets too close to Earth I'll challenge it to a dance off.

 

[TeeKay]

See y'all on the other side. Adios Amigos.