Update: Large asteriod will not hit Mars

[Micah 16]

Scientists have been tracking an asteriod since late last month that has a great chance (1-in-75 chance) of hitting Mars. If we were to compare it to an asteriod hitting Earth, it would be equivalent to a 15-megaton nuclear bomb and would wipe out 60 million trees as the Tunguska object did in 1908 that hit Siberia. If it were to hit the red planet, it would hit January 30th and it is quite questionable what would happen to the twin rovers. Scientists believe it may hit near the rover, Opportunity. 

If it does hit, it will provide us Earthlings with valuable information about asteriod impacts and, with help from the rovers, could expose soil that we were unable to reach before the impact. Not to mention, it will offer us a tantalizing show!

For more information, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22350742/

*Although it's not a massive asteriod, I decided to use the word "large" in order to seperate it from an asteriod that would simply break up in the atmosphere*

[Joesocwork 4]

I remember a few years back when either an asteroid or meteroid (I can't remember) his Jupiter. I provided great learning opportunities for the space community. I think it is awesome, btw, that the two rovers are still operating years after they completed their initial missions and were expected to expire a long time ago.

[panthersimcity4 162]

Gee, that sucks for Marvin the Martian...

[Haljackey 17,272]

Originally posted by: panthersimcity4 Gee, that sucks for Marvin the Martian...quote>

Hey, if he could blow up the earth with the "Q-36 explosive space modulator" or whatever it was called, I am sure he could handle this asteriod! 

Interesting news there Micah, a 1-in-75 chance is quite rare in space terms! 

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: haljackey

Originally posted by: panthersimcity4 Gee, that sucks for Marvin the Martian...quote>

Hey, if he could blow up the earth with the "Q-36 explosive space modulator" or whatever it was called, I am sure he could handle this asteriod! 

Interesting news there Micah, a 1-in-75 chance is quite rare in space terms! quote>

It was a "Uranian*  P-36  explosive space modulator". That particular short was on an old VHS of mine.

*sounds like it could be "Uranium", but that episode probably predates Hiroshima, so I doubt it.

[football_fever 6]

Yeah, that was the Schumakker-Levi comet that hit Jupiter...I think that's how you spell it...

[coolotter88 2]

Shoemaker-Levy (not as tough as you thought it'd be)

we need some cool videos of that on youtube.

[MrCinatit 30]

Originally posted by: coolotter88 Shoemaker-Levy (not as tough as you thought it'd be)

we need some cool videos of that on youtube.quote>

Unfortunately, the only YouTube videos I found were pretty cheesy. Thing is, I know I had some on an old hard drive, but lost them a while ago.

I did find some pictures, though

Remember, this is the effects on the clouds of a planet several thousands of times larger than Mars. Imagine the catastrophic effect that would have on Mars or on Earth. I have a feeling the rovers might be in for quite a period of darkness - but it would be very neat if they could get one sort of near a potential impact area.

A one in 75 chance, by astronomical terms, is a substantially large chance. If I am not mistaken, the closest near-Earth was more than one in a million.

Unfortunately, this could mean the Mars people will be out of a home soon. I hope everyone is prepared for the invasion by getting their tin-foil hats ready, and by putting on their death-ray-proof underwear.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Hopefully Hubble will be in a good position to take its readings.

Mars is close enough for some realy good pictures of the impact and the results

of that impact, assuming the impact dosent just put tones of dust in the air and make that impossible to do.

[saltandsauce 0]

Mars has a very thin crappy atmosphere compared to ours so asteroids burn up as much when they enter

[mayor of the manor 0]

ooooooooh this looks exciting! I'll keep my eyes on the skies and TV for the coverage hehe... And about Marvin the Martian... well I'm sure he'll be able to cope

[Mikeaut1 261]

Oh I wanna see this happen! It wouldn't have any affects on Earth though, right? As long as everybody is safe, this would be really fun to watch on a clear night!

[GMT 389]

I got a room left for marvin. he can sleep here until mars can be recolonised... hey, that fool provided me some fuel as I came here from 3rd rock from the sun!

anyways, zim is here aswell, and afaik both of them go way back, so I think they'd be happy to see each other again.

it would be awesome if this thing would hit mars. remember the footage of jupiter as the 9 thingies hit him? and now, if something like this is happening on mars, that would be hell of a cinema (literaly). not to mention the amounts of information this could give us.

but I kinda feel sorry for the martians...

OMFG!!!

now everything makes sense to me! EVERYTHING!

japanese army preparing for alien attacks, asteriods hitting mars, "their war, our world"...

ohhh, I so can't wait to see optimus prime life in fronta me! (after I've seen already Rachet at the IAA)

[beebs 129]

Originally posted by: Mikeaut1 Oh I wanna see this happen! It wouldn't have any affects on Earth though, right? As long as everybody is safe, this would be really fun to watch on a clear night!quote>

How can you watch an asteroid hit a planet which appears as a red dot from our vantage point? Unless you have some pass to an observatory, I don't think you'll be seeing much there Mikey.

[BurroDiablo 222]

Isn't Phobos (one of its moons) destined to crash into Mars at some point in the very very very very distant future? Doubt Humans will be around to witness it when it does... we'll have either died out, Nuked each other and died out or left for another solar system after depleting all the resources in this Solar system... and died out.

Looking forward to seeing the observations though, it probably won't be as spectacular as the Jupiter ones a few years ago and it'll destroy a few Mars Rovers in the process (costing Nasa a few dollars), but it'll still be cool to watch.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The Old Ones of Mars will take care of it.

[MrCinatit 30]

Originally posted by: El Burro Isn't Phobos (one of its moons) destined to crash into Mars at some point in the very very very very distant future? Doubt Humans will be around to witness it when it does... we'll have either died out, Nuked each other and died out or left for another solar system after depleting all the resources in this Solar system... and died out.

Looking forward to seeing the observations though, it probably won't be as spectacular as the Jupiter ones a few years ago and it'll destroy a few Mars Rovers in the process (costing Nasa a few dollars), but it'll still be cool to watch.quote>

Correct. The prediction is 100 million years from now, give or take a week.

[football_fever 6]

Those clouds from the comet impact were probably the size of Mars...I don't think I've seen that view of it

[DuskTrooper 314]

Originally posted by: MrCinatit

Unfortunately, this could mean the Mars people will be out of a home soon. I hope everyone is prepared for the invasion by getting their tin-foil hats ready, and by putting on their death-ray-proof underwear.quote>

Or, we should get ready for another flood of Katrina-esque refugees.  Of course, they'll complain no matter how much we may help them.  This time, the Astrodome may finally realize the irony of its own name.

NASA kills more Martians than heart disease, and cancer combined!

[MrCinatit 30]

Originally posted by: DuskTrooper

Originally posted by: MrCinatit

Unfortunately, this could mean the Mars people will be out of a home soon. I hope everyone is prepared for the invasion by getting their tin-foil hats ready, and by putting on their death-ray-proof underwear.quote>

Or, we should get ready for another flood of Katrina-esque refugees.  Of course, they'll complain no matter how much we may help them.  This time, the Astrodome may finally realize the irony of its own name.

NASA kills more Martians than heart disease, and cancer combined! quote>

"How come your atmosphere isn't more accessible for our breathing?"

"Your gravity feels funny to me."

"One moon? Pffft."

"You need more red." (as a result, the Cincinnati Reds could find a new market).

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body

The Old Ones of Mars will take care of it.quote>

and they will wait until they grok it

[purpledaddy 6]

Do Martians use GIMP?

[DuskTrooper 314]

Originally posted by: MrCinatit

Originally posted by: DuskTrooper

Originally posted by: MrCinatit

Unfortunately, this could mean the Mars people will be out of a home soon. I hope everyone is prepared for the invasion by getting their tin-foil hats ready, and by putting on their death-ray-proof underwear.quote>

Or, we should get ready for another flood of Katrina-esque refugees.  Of course, they'll complain no matter how much we may help them.  This time, the Astrodome may finally realize the irony of its own name.

NASA kills more Martians than heart disease, and cancer combined! quote>

"How come your atmosphere isn't more accessible for our breathing?"

"Your gravity feels funny to me."

"One moon? Pffft."

"You need more red." (as a result, the Cincinnati Reds could find a new market).quote>

And of course, the mayor will declare to rebuild it as the "Crimson Planet", but that plan will be thwarted when citizens from Pluto will flood Mars during the rebuilding campaign.  Pluto's status as a "NON Planet" will cause this mass exodus of illegal aliens seeking new jobs during the reconstruction of the great Martian city.  They may have crossed the asteroid belt illegally, but they are still mostly hard working aliens.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Wish I was a comic genius

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

Originally posted by: DuskTrooper

And of course, the mayor will declare to rebuild it as the "Crimson Planet", but that plan will be thwarted when citizens from Pluto will flood Mars during the rebuilding campaign.  Pluto's status as a "NON Planet" will cause this mass exodus of illegal aliens seeking new jobs during the reconstruction of the great Martian city.  They may have crossed the asteroid belt illegally, but they are still mostly hard working aliens. quote>

 

So... the Cydonia Mensae would be like the Superdome?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Originally posted by: SkiGeek

Originally posted by: N_O_Body

The Old Ones of Mars will take care of it.quote>

and they will wait until they grok itquote>

No  doubt waiting will fill.

[Hamish 1,369]

It will look a little something like DuskTrooper's avatar.

[Red1530 1]

The asteroid heading to mars is about the size of the one involved in the Tunguska Event.

[Micah 16]

Well, it almost looks like an official hit. NASA has now refined their estimates from a 1-in-75 chance to a 1-in-25 chance.

[MrCinatit 30]

One in 25 - yowzer. I am sure every telescope on Earth and beyond will be pointed towards the Red Planet.

Meanwhile, if a bunch of meteors looking like cylinders start hitting the ground here - cough on them.