Today's Asteroid Near Miss

[keyplyr]

The house-sized asteroid that just passed by Earth, almost as close as many satellites in orbit, will be back -- and a future visit might lead to it taking up permanent residency here.

[cnet.com...]

Hey! Why didn't you guys say something?

Scenario: If the scientists were aware of the inevitable destruction of Earth by an approaching asteroid... would you want to know? If so, what would you do different?

[engine]

Why didn't you guys say something?

hehe, I didn't know.
I wonder if that's the best way.

If the "world" can't do something to stop Asteroid 2012 TC4, is there any reason to know? I guess, having read about this object, it's not likely to cause a wipeout, but would be nasty for those living under its arrival point. I suppose, if we knew where it was going to arrive we could jump in our driver-less cars and escape.

[NickMNS]

This is fake news. The asteroid was actually a Russian spy satellite. I'm an Asteroid Denier!

If the "world" can't do something to stop Asteroid 2012 TC4, is there any reason to know?

There are plenty of other more imminent threats facing this planet or particular regions of the planet and we the "world" are unable to deal with those. Why should we worry about this?

I have deliberately left the statement vague, feel free to interpret this as relevant to any hot button topic viewed from either side of the political spectrum. Then one quickly realizes that the root of the problem (inaction) lies in the latter statement. Sorry to digress.

Frogs in hot water

Pigs in space..........

[keyplyr]

Anyway... back on topic (no disrespect to frogs or pigs)

If an asteroid (not yesterday's 2012 TC4) capable of total destruction was on a collision course to earth, I would absolutely want to know; not that there's anything I could do to stop it, but time permitting, there are several things I 'd want to do.

• First, I'd probably start drinking beer again, and maybe indulge in some Beluga caviar.

• Second, I'd go knock on that gal's door down the hall that's been fluttering her eyelashes at me in the elevator.

• And at some point (if I'm not drunk or worn out) I'd go out to the desert and see what the top speed really is on my Vette.

- - -

[tangor]

I'd suggest enrolling in a yoga class to get limber enough to be able to kiss my.... assets and website(s) goodbye.

MEANWHILE, the odds of total destruction of Earth are rather small from any asteroid known in the Solar System and the odds of THAT particular hunk of space rock hitting me personally are pretty low. Far enough inland so tidal waves are no worry and the area is tectonically inert, and most of the species here could be devastated a 1000x over and still not go extinct.

I'll take my chances.

And drink a beer, too. :)

[RhinoFish]

I'd head for higher ground, both driving to the mountains, and smoking a huge bong. I think I'd like a ride in keyplyr's Vette too. Maybe get a hot air balloon, stay aloft. I hope Steak N Shake is still serving shakes in the drive-thru.