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View Full Version : Mars and asteroid 2007 WD5

helen
December 21st, 2007, 12:22 PM
The CNN website posted an article (http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/12/21/mars.asteroid.ap/index.html) that says scientists at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory determined that an asteroid known as 2007 WD5 has 1 in 75 chance of hitting Mars around January 30 (I guess they mean 2008).
Pomai
December 21st, 2007, 06:07 PM
Any chance it might give that "Face on Mars (http://www.msss.com/education/facepage/face.html)" a black eye? :D

As long as we Earthlings don't get any "false cracks". :eek:
Glen Miyashiro
December 21st, 2007, 07:12 PM
It's possible we could get splattered by the splashback. In January, Mars will have just passed opposition (http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/allabout/nightsky/nightsky03.html) on December 24th, the time when Earth is exactly between Mars and the Sun, which is the closest point that Earth and Mars approach each other during their orbits. If that asteroid does whack into Mars, and if it whacks into Mars hard enough, debris from the impact that splashes into space might end up intersecting Earth orbit. Hey, fresh Mars rocks to play with! :rolleyes:
helen
December 21st, 2007, 09:19 PM
(a) assuming 2007 WD5 hits Mars
(b) and throws up a debris field that leaves Mars and heads toward Earth

By the time it reaches the path of Earth's orbit, Earth will not be in the spot.
DiverDown808
December 21st, 2007, 10:19 PM
Still...

I think I'm gonna pack my things and leave until this whole thing is over. I don't want to take any chances. Anybody have any time-shares on Jupiter they want to sell ?

:p
acousticlady
December 22nd, 2007, 03:40 AM
(a) assuming 2007 WD5 hits Mars
(b) and throws up a debris field that leaves Mars and heads toward Earth

By the time it reaches the path of Earth's orbit, Earth will not be in the spot.

Yay for physics :D
Glen Miyashiro
January 10th, 2008, 07:35 PM
Risk of Mars impact drops to 1 in 10,000 (http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn13165-risk-of-mars-impact-drops-to-1-in-10000.html)

Whew!
Mike_Lowery
January 10th, 2008, 07:41 PM
Risk of Mars impact drops to 1 in 10,000 (http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn13165-risk-of-mars-impact-drops-to-1-in-10000.html)

Whew!
damn. I played a 3-asteroid crash parlay on asteroids hitting mars, jupiter, and saturn. odds don't look good, but the payoff now would've been ridiculous. what's the moneyline? :D
helen
January 10th, 2008, 07:48 PM
Amazing the odds of 2007 WD5 hitting Mars changed between when it was first spotted and now. It went as high as 1 in 25 chance of hitting Mars.
AlohaKine
January 10th, 2008, 08:44 PM
It's possible we could get splattered by the splashback. In January, Mars will have just passed opposition (http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/allabout/nightsky/nightsky03.html) on December 24th, the time when Earth is exactly between Mars and the Sun, which is the closest point that Earth and Mars approach each other during their orbits. If that asteroid does whack into Mars, and if it whacks into Mars hard enough, debris from the impact that splashes into space might end up intersecting Earth orbit. Hey, fresh Mars rocks to play with! :rolleyes:

I wish I found one. Meteorites from Mars that get blasted off the surface and make it to Earth are very rare and worth a lot of money. Check it out.

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=mars+meteorite&category0=
Mike_Lowery
January 10th, 2008, 08:53 PM
I wish I found one. Meteorites from Mars that get blasted off the surface and make it to Earth are very rare and worth a lot of money. Check it out.

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=mars+meteorite&category0=
In a way they're worth something, but as with all collectibles, they're worth only what someone is willing to pay. Look at the few bids that those rocks are fetching. I wish I never got into collecting sports cards. :(
zztype
January 10th, 2008, 09:18 PM
In a way they're worth something, but as with all collectibles, they're worth only what someone is willing to pay. Look at the few bids that those rocks are fetching. I wish I never got into collecting sports cards. :(

Why, brah? You like buy some Barry Bonds rookies? I get plenny. :D
zztype
January 10th, 2008, 09:19 PM
Yay for physics :D

Yay for psychics!
Leo Lakio
January 11th, 2008, 07:53 AM
Yay for psychics!I knew you were gonna say that...
craigwatanabe
January 15th, 2008, 08:44 AM
Amazing the odds of 2007 WD5 hitting Mars changed between when it was first spotted and now. It went as high as 1 in 25 chance of hitting Mars.

Blame it on Vegas. Always trying to find an angle to bet on.:D
AlohaKine
January 15th, 2008, 05:17 PM
From the Jet Propulsion Laboratory website:

"Astronomers Rule Out Possibility of Asteroid Impact on Mars
As expected, scientists at JPL's Near-Earth Object Office have further refined the trajectory estimate for asteroid 2007 WD5 and ruled out any possibility of a Mars impact on Jan. 30. (Jan. 9)"

I'm soooooo disappointed. :( I'll just have to watch the old 90's footage of that comet hitting Jupiter again.