Flaming Asteroid 2020
March 16, 2020 3:56 PM Subscribe
Asteroid Could Cause Atmospheric Explosion If It Gets Too Close From the Department of OK, Sure, What's Next: "an asteroid following an Earth-intersecting orbit was approaching the planet, and data collected by NASA indicates it's big enough to create a violent explosion in the atmosphere should it come too close."
NASA CNEOS Database page for 2020-EF
The approaching asteroid is being monitored by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, which is tracking the object, known as 2020 EF, at more than 10,000 mph.
CNEOS estimated the asteroid has a diameter of about 98 feet, making it slightly longer than the distances between baseball diamond bases.
According to CNEOS, 2020 EF is an Aten asteroid, which means it follows a natural orbit that crosses Earth’s path. As indicated in NASA’s orbit diagram for 2020 EF, the asteroid follows a very wide orbit around the sun and almost follows the same path as Earth. The diagram also shows multiple near-approaches between 2020 EF and the planet.
Due to its size, 2020 EF will most likely not cause an impact event, likely breaking if it enters Earth's atmosphere. It's big enough, however, to cause an explosion in the sky that could be dangerous, as illustrated by the 2013 meteor explosion over the city of Chelyabinsk, Russia, which produced a flash 30 times brighter than the Sun and caused 180 cases of eye pain and 70 cases of temporary flash blindness.
NASA CNEOS Database page for 2020-EF
The approaching asteroid is being monitored by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, which is tracking the object, known as 2020 EF, at more than 10,000 mph.
CNEOS estimated the asteroid has a diameter of about 98 feet, making it slightly longer than the distances between baseball diamond bases.
According to CNEOS, 2020 EF is an Aten asteroid, which means it follows a natural orbit that crosses Earth’s path. As indicated in NASA’s orbit diagram for 2020 EF, the asteroid follows a very wide orbit around the sun and almost follows the same path as Earth. The diagram also shows multiple near-approaches between 2020 EF and the planet.
Due to its size, 2020 EF will most likely not cause an impact event, likely breaking if it enters Earth's atmosphere. It's big enough, however, to cause an explosion in the sky that could be dangerous, as illustrated by the 2013 meteor explosion over the city of Chelyabinsk, Russia, which produced a flash 30 times brighter than the Sun and caused 180 cases of eye pain and 70 cases of temporary flash blindness.
« CNEOS said the asteroid is expected to approach Earth on March 18 at 11:15 p.m. EDT. During this time, the asteroid will fly past Earth from a distance of 0.04241 astronomical units or roughly 3.9 million miles from the planet’s center. »
Neat, and no cause for concern (at least this year).
posted by Belostomatidae at 4:00 PM on March 16, 2020 [8 favorites]
Neat, and no cause for concern (at least this year).
posted by Belostomatidae at 4:00 PM on March 16, 2020 [8 favorites]
I thought we'd get the drought and the locust plague before the sky started burning.
Live and learn I guess.
posted by signal at 4:01 PM on March 16, 2020 [17 favorites]
Live and learn I guess.
posted by signal at 4:01 PM on March 16, 2020 [17 favorites]
I’ve got bad news for you about the locusts.
posted by mhoye at 4:05 PM on March 16, 2020 [65 favorites]
posted by mhoye at 4:05 PM on March 16, 2020 [65 favorites]
Wait till you hear that there's a 11 million foot space body which is just 239,000 miles from the Earth.
posted by zompist at 4:06 PM on March 16, 2020 [26 favorites]
posted by zompist at 4:06 PM on March 16, 2020 [26 favorites]
What's a few million miles between friends?
posted by kaibutsu at 4:06 PM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by kaibutsu at 4:06 PM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
> I thought we'd get the drought and the locust plague before the sky started burning.
And we all thought the plague that kills off the first born meant the oldest child in the family. Well it does, in a sense. Just happens those children were born 60+ years ago.
posted by pwnguin at 4:06 PM on March 16, 2020 [6 favorites]
And we all thought the plague that kills off the first born meant the oldest child in the family. Well it does, in a sense. Just happens those children were born 60+ years ago.
posted by pwnguin at 4:06 PM on March 16, 2020 [6 favorites]
Giant Meteor 2020!
posted by Your Childhood Pet Rock at 4:06 PM on March 16, 2020 [19 favorites]
posted by Your Childhood Pet Rock at 4:06 PM on March 16, 2020 [19 favorites]
I thought we'd get the drought and the locust
Um. What ever you do then do not Google video of the last few weeks of massive locusts swarms in the Middle East.
I shit you not.
posted by Everyone Expects The Spanish Influenza at 4:06 PM on March 16, 2020 [18 favorites]
Um. What ever you do then do not Google video of the last few weeks of massive locusts swarms in the Middle East.
I shit you not.
posted by Everyone Expects The Spanish Influenza at 4:06 PM on March 16, 2020 [18 favorites]
I’ve got bad news for you about the locusts.
And the drought.
posted by jacquilynne at 4:14 PM on March 16, 2020 [24 favorites]
And the drought.
posted by jacquilynne at 4:14 PM on March 16, 2020 [24 favorites]
Wait till you hear that there's a 11 million foot space body which is just 239,000 miles from the Earth.
Wouldn't have much longer to wait at that point.
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:20 PM on March 16, 2020
Wouldn't have much longer to wait at that point.
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:20 PM on March 16, 2020
From the Department of OK, Sure, What's Next:
who set up this department
where can i complain about its existence
surely we can cut some red tape
posted by lalochezia at 4:21 PM on March 16, 2020 [31 favorites]
who set up this department
where can i complain about its existence
surely we can cut some red tape
posted by lalochezia at 4:21 PM on March 16, 2020 [31 favorites]
The artist's rendering of a meteor about to strike earth is the cherry on the top of this post.
posted by SoberHighland at 4:34 PM on March 16, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by SoberHighland at 4:34 PM on March 16, 2020 [7 favorites]
If you read tabloids, there's an imminent Earth-destroying asteroid every few weeks. If they hit Earth, they'd be a big deal, but (crucially) we know they're going to miss with a high degree of certainty. There's a lot of these and NASA keeps track of them, which means the tabloids can always shout about a new one.
posted by BungaDunga at 4:41 PM on March 16, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by BungaDunga at 4:41 PM on March 16, 2020 [4 favorites]
> a distance of 0.04241 astronomical units or roughly 3.9 million miles from the planet’s center
For context, the moon is ballpark 238,900 miles away. This is 10x further than that.
posted by pwnguin at 4:48 PM on March 16, 2020 [9 favorites]
For context, the moon is ballpark 238,900 miles away. This is 10x further than that.
posted by pwnguin at 4:48 PM on March 16, 2020 [9 favorites]
Wait till you hear that there's a 11 million foot space body which is just 239,000 miles from the Earth.
Wouldn't have much longer to wait at that point.
Oh, I get it now...I'm a little slow on the uptake today.
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:53 PM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
Wouldn't have much longer to wait at that point.
Oh, I get it now...I'm a little slow on the uptake today.
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:53 PM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
After this week, I’m ready.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:56 PM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:56 PM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
Ok no point in lockdown amirite?
posted by supermedusa at 4:58 PM on March 16, 2020
posted by supermedusa at 4:58 PM on March 16, 2020
I’ve got bad news for you about the locusts.
And the drought.
not to mention the reign of fools
posted by philip-random at 5:21 PM on March 16, 2020 [15 favorites]
And the drought.
not to mention the reign of fools
posted by philip-random at 5:21 PM on March 16, 2020 [15 favorites]
Finally, we emerge from the darkest timeline straight into the opening sequence from Thundarr the Barbarian.
Hope Ookla The Mok and Princess Ariel aren’t too busy.
posted by dr_dank at 5:21 PM on March 16, 2020 [19 favorites]
Hope Ookla The Mok and Princess Ariel aren’t too busy.
posted by dr_dank at 5:21 PM on March 16, 2020 [19 favorites]
Which drought? It’s always bloody drought.
posted by pompomtom at 5:32 PM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by pompomtom at 5:32 PM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
I see that people are studiously avoiding mention of the rain of frogs.
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:42 PM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:42 PM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
Wait till you hear that there's a 11 million foot space body which is just 239,000 miles from the Earth.
Getting further and further from us at about just under 4cm a year. Always wondered what would happen if an asteroid of significant size slammed into the Moon.
posted by juiceCake at 6:16 PM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
Getting further and further from us at about just under 4cm a year. Always wondered what would happen if an asteroid of significant size slammed into the Moon.
posted by juiceCake at 6:16 PM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
@juiceCake Neal Stephenson's got ya if you have time to read Seveneves
posted by fiercekitten at 6:21 PM on March 16, 2020 [12 favorites]
posted by fiercekitten at 6:21 PM on March 16, 2020 [12 favorites]
Wait till you hear that there's a 11 million foot space body which is just 239,000 miles from the Earth.
fuckin galactus now i swear to
posted by curious nu at 6:21 PM on March 16, 2020 [7 favorites]
fuckin galactus now i swear to
posted by curious nu at 6:21 PM on March 16, 2020 [7 favorites]
the asteroid will fly past Earth from a distance of 0.04241 astronomical units or roughly 3.9 million miles from the planet’s center
Clickbait headline got my hopes up and then this
posted by rodlymight at 6:25 PM on March 16, 2020 [5 favorites]
Clickbait headline got my hopes up and then this
posted by rodlymight at 6:25 PM on March 16, 2020 [5 favorites]
Seveneves is a great read if you don,t mind some close-to-home apocalypse
posted by supermedusa at 6:28 PM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 6:28 PM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
Ha ha!
All those toilet paper hoarders are gonna get their comeuppance.
FOOOF!!!
There goes their stash.
posted by BlueHorse at 6:28 PM on March 16, 2020 [10 favorites]
All those toilet paper hoarders are gonna get their comeuppance.
FOOOF!!!
There goes their stash.
posted by BlueHorse at 6:28 PM on March 16, 2020 [10 favorites]
Cool.
posted by bondcliff at 6:59 PM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by bondcliff at 6:59 PM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
Fuck the International Business Times. They're constantly posting about space rocks that will come daaaangerously clooooose and cooooould cause bla bla bla. It's always a similar clickbait that pops up in my feed every day—from them, and usually only from them.
Fuck'em. They're off the newsfeed. I've had enough of this shit. What pwnguin said upthread.
....wait, maybe I AM THE FLAMING ASTEROID
posted by not_on_display at 7:03 PM on March 16, 2020 [16 favorites]
Fuck'em. They're off the newsfeed. I've had enough of this shit. What pwnguin said upthread.
....wait, maybe I AM THE FLAMING ASTEROID
posted by not_on_display at 7:03 PM on March 16, 2020 [16 favorites]
"Jupiter Could Swallow Earth Millions Of Times If It Leaves Orbit And Heads Toward Us"
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:52 PM on March 16, 2020 [30 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:52 PM on March 16, 2020 [30 favorites]
Aten asteroid
Huhn, are there Amon meteors and Ptah comets and so on and so forth?
posted by mwhybark at 8:05 PM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
Huhn, are there Amon meteors and Ptah comets and so on and so forth?
posted by mwhybark at 8:05 PM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
I think we should launch Ben Affleck at it just to be on the safe side.
posted by dephlogisticated at 8:28 PM on March 16, 2020 [14 favorites]
posted by dephlogisticated at 8:28 PM on March 16, 2020 [14 favorites]
Either way I'm keeping a close eye on the situation because I don't want to miss a thing.
posted by dephlogisticated at 8:30 PM on March 16, 2020 [10 favorites]
posted by dephlogisticated at 8:30 PM on March 16, 2020 [10 favorites]
I think we should launch Ben Affleck at it just to be on the safe side.
You mean, get him off Earth before he has a chance to make another movie? I endorse this plan.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:38 PM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
You mean, get him off Earth before he has a chance to make another movie? I endorse this plan.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:38 PM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
Hang on, I got a strong feeling the Trump administration is on this. I mean, they're due for a win eventually right?
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:49 PM on March 16, 2020
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:49 PM on March 16, 2020
🎶 some time in the next ten thousand years / a comet's gonna wipe out all trace of man / I'm banking on it coming before my end of year exams 🎶
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 8:50 PM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 8:50 PM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
"It is brighter!" cried the people clustering in the streets. But in the dim observatories the watchers held their breath and peered at one another. "It is nearer," they said. "Nearer!"
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 9:24 PM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
"Asteroid Could Cause Atmospheric Explosion If It Gets Too Close" is the Questionless Betteridge.
"Sun Could Cause Eternal Ice Age If It Gets Too Far Away"
"Oceans Could Devastate Fisheries If They Drain Into The Earth's Potentially Hollow Core"
"Poison Dart Frogs Could Kill Thousands If They Evolve Into Venom Dart Frogs And Choose A Path Of Hatred"
"Delusionally Narcissistic Grifter Could Damage Cherished Institutions, Lives, If He Becomes" fucl
posted by away for regrooving at 10:00 PM on March 16, 2020 [42 favorites]
"Sun Could Cause Eternal Ice Age If It Gets Too Far Away"
"Oceans Could Devastate Fisheries If They Drain Into The Earth's Potentially Hollow Core"
"Poison Dart Frogs Could Kill Thousands If They Evolve Into Venom Dart Frogs And Choose A Path Of Hatred"
"Delusionally Narcissistic Grifter Could Damage Cherished Institutions, Lives, If He Becomes" fucl
posted by away for regrooving at 10:00 PM on March 16, 2020 [42 favorites]
Unfortunately, Trump fired the entire Giant Meteor Response Team in 2018.
posted by webmutant at 10:36 PM on March 16, 2020 [22 favorites]
posted by webmutant at 10:36 PM on March 16, 2020 [22 favorites]
The artist's rendering of a meteor about to strike earth is the cherry on the top of this post.
Seriously. It looks Earth just lit its own fart.
posted by roger ackroyd at 10:43 PM on March 16, 2020
Seriously. It looks Earth just lit its own fart.
posted by roger ackroyd at 10:43 PM on March 16, 2020
good lord. that site is atrocious
posted by Bwentman at 10:46 PM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Bwentman at 10:46 PM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
Didja ever see that movie Night of the Comet
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:58 PM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:58 PM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
Poison Dart Frogs Could Kill Thousands If They Evolve Into Venom Dart Frogs And Choose A Path Of Hatred"
Literally crying with laughter. Thank you, I really needed this today.
posted by corey flood at 11:35 PM on March 16, 2020 [10 favorites]
Literally crying with laughter. Thank you, I really needed this today.
posted by corey flood at 11:35 PM on March 16, 2020 [10 favorites]
ctrl/f "Green Slime" = 0
son, I am disappoint
anyway
posted by philip-random at 11:49 PM on March 16, 2020
son, I am disappoint
anyway
posted by philip-random at 11:49 PM on March 16, 2020
Promises, promises
posted by potrzebie at 11:58 PM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by potrzebie at 11:58 PM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
Who the hell is writing this movie? Someone call my agent and tell him I want off this nightmare train ride. Also, I want the producer’s head on a platter.
And a pony.
Two ponies.
I’ll be in my trailer.
posted by drivingmenuts at 12:11 AM on March 17, 2020 [4 favorites]
And a pony.
Two ponies.
I’ll be in my trailer.
posted by drivingmenuts at 12:11 AM on March 17, 2020 [4 favorites]
AT LAST
posted by poffin boffin at 12:21 AM on March 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by poffin boffin at 12:21 AM on March 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
MetaFilter: good lord. that site is atrocious
MetaTalk: ....wait, maybe I AM THE FLAMING ASTEROID
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:56 AM on March 17, 2020 [2 favorites]
MetaTalk: ....wait, maybe I AM THE FLAMING ASTEROID
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:56 AM on March 17, 2020 [2 favorites]
Who the hell is writing this movie? Someone call my agent and tell him I want off this nightmare train ride. Also, I want the producer’s head on a platter.
Aw, this is just a Netflix remake of that one from 2013 that had the Chelyabinsk meteor. That one was great — it also had the pope resigning and North Korea setting off a nuke. To judge from the trailers, this one just has people panic-buying toilet paper. As well, the casting is atrocious: the president in the last one was played by a guy kind of like a young Morgan Freeman, but this one is I think that guy from Home Alone 2. Can’t recall the name, but he looks like an old blowsy Sam Kinison.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:33 AM on March 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
Aw, this is just a Netflix remake of that one from 2013 that had the Chelyabinsk meteor. That one was great — it also had the pope resigning and North Korea setting off a nuke. To judge from the trailers, this one just has people panic-buying toilet paper. As well, the casting is atrocious: the president in the last one was played by a guy kind of like a young Morgan Freeman, but this one is I think that guy from Home Alone 2. Can’t recall the name, but he looks like an old blowsy Sam Kinison.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:33 AM on March 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
Fun, 8-minute video about a NASA mission I'm working on: DART
https://www.freethink.com/shows/guardians-of-the-apocalypse/asteroid-headed-for-earth
(My friend Elena was due to talk on a panel about this, at SXSW, but that didn't happen.)
posted by newdaddy at 5:34 AM on March 17, 2020 [2 favorites]
https://www.freethink.com/shows/guardians-of-the-apocalypse/asteroid-headed-for-earth
(My friend Elena was due to talk on a panel about this, at SXSW, but that didn't happen.)
posted by newdaddy at 5:34 AM on March 17, 2020 [2 favorites]
Worth having a look just for the goofy Aardmanesque video at the top of the article - made me smile :-)
posted by domdib at 5:49 AM on March 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by domdib at 5:49 AM on March 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
My apocalypse bingo card appears to be full.
posted by furnace.heart at 5:50 AM on March 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by furnace.heart at 5:50 AM on March 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
@juiceCake Neal Stephenson's got ya if you have time to read Seveneves
I've read a lot of Stephenson, including the The Baroque Cycle, which apparently is some sort of achievement according to friends but Seveneves I couldn't really get beyond the first 30 pages or so. I may make an attempt again.
posted by juiceCake at 6:10 AM on March 17, 2020 [2 favorites]
I've read a lot of Stephenson, including the The Baroque Cycle, which apparently is some sort of achievement according to friends but Seveneves I couldn't really get beyond the first 30 pages or so. I may make an attempt again.
posted by juiceCake at 6:10 AM on March 17, 2020 [2 favorites]
My apocalypse bingo card appears to be full
Mine's still missing zombies, unless Republicans count.
posted by flabdablet at 6:59 AM on March 17, 2020 [4 favorites]
Mine's still missing zombies, unless Republicans count.
posted by flabdablet at 6:59 AM on March 17, 2020 [4 favorites]
Which, on reflection, they never have been able to.
posted by flabdablet at 7:00 AM on March 17, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by flabdablet at 7:00 AM on March 17, 2020 [4 favorites]
MetaTalk: ....wait, maybe I AM THE FLAMING ASTEROID
Be the flaming asteroid you want to see in the world.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:43 AM on March 17, 2020 [6 favorites]
Be the flaming asteroid you want to see in the world.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:43 AM on March 17, 2020 [6 favorites]
Maybe the real flaming asteroid was the friends we made along the way.
posted by mrgoat at 9:09 AM on March 17, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by mrgoat at 9:09 AM on March 17, 2020 [7 favorites]
What's a few million miles between friends?
Well-practiced social distancing, that's what.
posted by azpenguin at 10:00 AM on March 17, 2020 [5 favorites]
Well-practiced social distancing, that's what.
posted by azpenguin at 10:00 AM on March 17, 2020 [5 favorites]
IF this bad-boy were aimed at Earth. What kind of damage does 98 feet in diameter do when hitting earth? City-killer?
Anyone with a reference for size - to - kill?
Just set out my lawn chair to the backyard and the weather is looking clear.
posted by fluffycreature at 10:58 AM on March 17, 2020
Anyone with a reference for size - to - kill?
Just set out my lawn chair to the backyard and the weather is looking clear.
posted by fluffycreature at 10:58 AM on March 17, 2020
IF this bad-boy were aimed at Earth. What kind of damage does 98 feet in diameter do when hitting earth? City-killer?
Impact Simulator
Depending on the speed of the impact, looks like a small asteroid made of porous rock (100m across, 98 feet is only 30m or so), would cause the equivalent of a Richter 5.0 earthquake and a ~1km wide crater.
A lot of this depends on the actual mass of the asteroid (a lump of iron that size would completely obliterate most cities, porous rock not as bad)
posted by dis_integration at 11:12 AM on March 17, 2020
Impact Simulator
Depending on the speed of the impact, looks like a small asteroid made of porous rock (100m across, 98 feet is only 30m or so), would cause the equivalent of a Richter 5.0 earthquake and a ~1km wide crater.
A lot of this depends on the actual mass of the asteroid (a lump of iron that size would completely obliterate most cities, porous rock not as bad)
posted by dis_integration at 11:12 AM on March 17, 2020
WRT Seveneves, I really couldn't get past the Hard Rain, aka the end of the world (as we know it).
posted by Halloween Jack at 2:14 PM on March 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Halloween Jack at 2:14 PM on March 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
PSA : the post mentions blast injuries from one of the better known asteroid atmospheric explosions, the one near Chelyabinsk in 2013.
What it doesn't mention was that many more injuries in that case were due to flying glass as people stood at windows and looked at the trail of the asteroid. In the extremely unlikely situation that you get to witness such a thing it might be worth remembering that.
posted by southof40 at 5:13 PM on March 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
What it doesn't mention was that many more injuries in that case were due to flying glass as people stood at windows and looked at the trail of the asteroid. In the extremely unlikely situation that you get to witness such a thing it might be worth remembering that.
posted by southof40 at 5:13 PM on March 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
dr_dank: "Finally, we emerge from the darkest timeline straight into the opening sequence from Thundarr the Barbarian.
Hope Ookla The Mok and Princess Ariel aren’t too busy."
*Finally* I have a reason to break out my fabulous Sun Sword!
posted by Chrysostom at 8:46 PM on April 8, 2020
Hope Ookla The Mok and Princess Ariel aren’t too busy."
*Finally* I have a reason to break out my fabulous Sun Sword!
posted by Chrysostom at 8:46 PM on April 8, 2020
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posted by snuffleupagus at 3:56 PM on March 16, 2020 [15 favorites]