Asteroid Discovery - 1980-2012
March 1, 2013 9:48 AM   Subscribe

Using data provided by the Lowell Observatory and Minor Planet Center, this fascinating video provides a view of our knowledge of nearby asteroids and how closely their paths intersect with Earth's. The voiceover explains the count of objects, and what the colorations mean. [slyt]
posted by quin (16 comments total) 12 users marked this as a favorite
 
I saw this when it was linked in the Russian meteor thread. It's really well done.
posted by gingerbeer at 9:55 AM on March 1, 2013


"Getting awful crowded in my sky!"
posted by yoink at 10:01 AM on March 1, 2013


This is fantastic. And a little terrifying--surely this can't be any way to run a solar system?
posted by maxwelton at 10:02 AM on March 1, 2013


Wow!
posted by Hobgoblin at 10:05 AM on March 1, 2013


If only we had some kind of triangle floating in space which could shoot at these asteroids and the occasional flying saucer.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 10:07 AM on March 1, 2013 [6 favorites]


In the early 21st Century, the people of Earth built The Eye Of Sauron.
posted by anonymisc at 10:14 AM on March 1, 2013


If only we had some kind of triangle floating in space which could shoot at these asteroids and the occasional flying saucer.

It wouldn't work. Once you clear them all up, a bunch of new ones just appear out of nowhere. They never stop... they just keep on coming.
posted by bondcliff at 10:27 AM on March 1, 2013


What's the hurry, Mercury?
posted by rmxwl at 10:42 AM on March 1, 2013


This is a great visualization and narration. And I knew I recognized that voice; Scott Manley is also an expert in the Kerbal Space Program, his videos are the best explanation of Merbal rocket design I've found.
posted by Nelson at 10:52 AM on March 1, 2013 [1 favorite]


Technically a double, although it didn't have the narration back then.
posted by Johnny Assay at 11:26 AM on March 1, 2013


Neat, thanks for posting.
posted by sacrifix at 2:06 PM on March 1, 2013


Now that's what I call a vortex!
posted by aubilenon at 3:43 PM on March 1, 2013


This rocks.
posted by fantabulous timewaster at 4:29 PM on March 1, 2013


“So this is it," said Arthur, "We are going to die."
posted by Blackanvil at 4:29 PM on March 1, 2013


"Hulloo it's Scott Manley here..."
posted by nathan_teske at 5:39 PM on March 1, 2013 [1 favorite]


Scott's the best Kerbal Space Program instructor, evuh.
posted by steef at 7:01 AM on March 2, 2013


« Older Mars: Cosmic Bullseye?   |   Motor City Sadness Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments