At 12:27 AM 3/20/02, you wrote: >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Gary Nunn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "Brin Mail List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2002 5:44 PM >Subject: Near Miss: Asteroid takes Earth by surprise > > > > > > > > March 19 - An asteroid as wide as a Boeing 747 narrowly missed Earth this > > month - and we never knew it was coming. The case of asteroid 2002 EM7 has > > drawn attention to the gaps in the planet's infant system for monitoring > > potential threats from space. > > > > Complete article here..... > > > >An interesting point on "narrow". If we only knew that the asteroid would >pass at least within 463,000 km, then we would calculate the odds on it >hitting the earth as less than 1 in 5000. > >Dan M.
From <http://skyandtelescope.com/news/current/article_545_1.asp>: --- begin quote --- Despite the media attention in the wake of 2002 EM7's passage, such "close" flybys are not uncommon. According to Jim Scotti (University of Arizona), "Simply put, objects the size of the Tunguska impactor pass within the distance that 2002 EM7 did about 25 times every year." Rocks the size of 2002 EM7 come by nearly 100 times a year. This particular instance grabbed headlines because the minor planet was actually observed. Scotti explains that astronomers cannot fully tally asteroids about 50 m in diameter using today's survey techniques, regardless of whether the objects are moving from the direction of the Sun or not. Alas, this is of little solace to people worried about space-borne threats. ---- end quote ---- -- Ronn! :) God bless America, Land that I love! Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam� God bless America! My home, sweet home. -- Irving Berlin (1888-1989)
