meteor strike in 2036

[BobbyBobBob]

I keep hearing things about a meteor hitting earth in 2036 and wiping out mankind. Is this really true and how likely is this to happen?

[MarkRae]

It could, though "probably won't". We'll know more next year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99942_Apophis

[Purple_Popple]

Brilliant ! Im off to the dignitas clinic about then. :)

[dotty.]

that was ruled out in 2009
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/08/science/sci-asteroid8

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

It's a possibility.
The asteroid is called Apophis (sp?) and it's due for a close pass of earth in 2029.
If it hits a teeny tiny gravitational window on its way past, it will probably hit us when it returns in 2036.
It's more unlikely than likely (about 3% probability) but it's not out of the question.
The wikipedia page is worth a read.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99942_Apophis

[Nibble]

Looks like the chance of an actual impact are lessening by the year, as more observations are taken, i.e As of October 7, 2009, refinements to the precovery images of Apophis by the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy, the 90-inch Bok Telescope, and the Arecibo Observatory have generated a refined path that reduces the odds of an April 13, 2036 impact to about 1 in 250,000.

[BobbyBobBob]

OK

So if we avoid it in 2036/2040 when would the next threat be?

Plus would it actually wipe out mankind or would people survive?

[wildwood]

Hang on! I thought we were all going to hell on 23th december this year?

[Brinjal]

Yep wildwood it's all over then

[LazyGun]

Short answer re apohpis strike is that it seems to be increasingly unlikely that we will suffer a strike.

For those fans of Stargate- 1, the TV Sci-Fi series, the irony of an extinction event caused by an asteroid called Apophis would be inescapable :)

If you want to scare yourself, here is a table from the JPLs NEO programme....
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/

[naomi24]

That would create a bit of a dilemma for believers of the Koran though, because according to that the stars were created as missiles AGAINST demons. ;o)

[DTCwordfan]

After the announcement on the 3rd of Dec, I'm moving to Mars.

[aelmpvw]

Be the most spectacular olympic ceremony ever

[Baldric]

I'll be be 85 then (maybe) so will I care?

[jomifl]

Naomi, I'm sure that mohammed (cbhn) was quite specific in that when he used the word stars he meant distant suns. He obviously knew about asteroids but for his own mysterious reasons saw fit not to mention them. We can all rest assured that since mohammed (cbhn) hasn't given a specific date for the end of the earth then it won't happen exept in the biblical sense. :-)

[hedgebeater]

Jomifl, I know one says a blessing when mentioning the name of the Prophet, but can you tell me what cbhn means?

[sandyRoe]

cursed be his name?

[jomifl]

Hedgebeater, I am afraid that you will have to make of it what you an or will. If I told you what I take it to mean then a fatwa would be issued giving any muslim the right to kill me.