Europe Developing Asteroid Shield

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,811658,00.html

01/26/2012

Collision Course

Europe Developing Asteroid Shield

By Christoph Seidler

A new consortium of EU researchers is exploring options for dealing with an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. Plenty of ideas are already on the table, such as deflection with projectiles or explosives and using gravity to pull it off course. But the project's complexity and costs are problematic.

Next week, the Earth's residents can once again play the popular game of "What if?" What if a hunk of cosmic rock is out there on a collision course with Earth? At the moment, an asteroid labeled &quot 433) Eros" is rushing toward our planet on a course that will bring it relatively close, at least on a cosmic scale.

On the one hand, the chunk of rock -- measuring 30 by 13 by 13 kilometers (19 by 8 by 8 miles) -- is approaching Earth closer than any asteroid of this size has for a long time. But on the other, it is currently following a circular path far beyond the moon's orbit.

Many people might shudder to think of these silent giants. But then they will go on about their daily business, forgetting all about (433) Eros and others. After all, in statistical terms, the chances of an asteroid that size hitting the Earth are still rather slim.

[SidDithers]

1. Thanks for posting. Interesting stuff...nt

Sid

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. Asteroid to make near-miss fly-by

Asteroid to make near-miss fly-by

The asteroid is minuscule relative to the recently photographed asteroid Vesta
Continue reading the main story

Giant asteroid passes near Earth
An asteroid will pass by the Earth on Friday in something of a cosmic near-miss, making its closest approach at about 1600 GMT.

The asteroid, estimated to be about 11m (36ft) in diameter, was first detected on Wednesday.

At its closest, the space rock - named 2012 BX34 - will pass within about 60,000km of Earth - less than a fifth of the distance to the Moon.

Astronomers stress that there is no cause for concern.

"It's one of the closest approaches recorded," said Gareth Williams, associate director of the US-based Minor Planet Center.

"It makes it in to the top 20 closest approaches, but it's sufficiently far away... that there's absolutely no chance of it hitting us," he told the BBC.

The asteroid's path makes it the closest space-rock to pass by the Earth since object 2011 MD in June 2011.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16756450


BTW for those that don't know Metric yet

THAT'S ABOUT 37,282 MILES.

which is close.