Apophis - ProfilesArchive

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Alan Boyle of MSNBC Wrote NASA has outlined what it could do, and in what time frame, in case a quarter-mile-wide asteroid named Apophis is on a course to slam into Earth in the year 2036. The timetable was released by the B612 Foundation, a group that is pressing NASA and other government agencies to do more to head off threats from near-Earth objects.The plan runs like this: Eight years from now, if there's still a chance of a collision in 2036, NASA would start drawing up plans to put a probe on the space rock or in orbit around it in 2019. Measurements sent back from the probe would characterize Apophis' course to an accuracy of mere yards (meters) by the year 2020.If those readings still could not rule out a strike in 2036, NASA would try to deflect the asteroid into a non-threatening course in the 2024-2028 time frame by firing an impactor at it â€” using this year's Deep Impact comet-blasting probe as a model. Experts would start planning for the "Son of Deep Impact" mission even before they knew whether or not it was needed.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search (99942) Apophis Discovery A Discoverer Roy A. Tucker, David J. Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi Discovery date June 19, 2004 Alternate designations B 2004 MN4 Category Aten Orbital elements C Epoch November 26, 2005 (JD 2453700.5) Eccentricity (e) 0.191 Semi-major axis (a) 137.992 Gm (0.922 AU) Perihelion (q) 111.633 Gm (0.746 AU) Aphelion (Q) 164.351 Gm (1.099 AU) Orbital period (P) 323.587 d (0.89 a) Mean orbital speed 30.73 km/s Inclination (i) 3.331Â° Longitude of the ascending node (O) 204.466Â° Argument of perihelion (?) 126.364Â° Mean anomaly (M) 111.000Â° Physical characteristics D Dimensions ~300 m (estimated) Mass 5Ã—1010 kg (estimated) Density ? g/cmÂ³ Surface gravity ? Escape velocity ? Rotation period ? d Spectral class ? Absolute magnitude 19.2 Albedo (geometric) ? Mean surface temperature ~290 K (assuming 0.1 albedo)Myspace Graphics
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Does NASA have knowledge of a large asteroid that will strike Earth?No. Comets and asteroids do occasionally strike Earth, and NASA recognizes that potential impacts could pose a hazard to life on Earth. The probability that Earth will be struck by a large asteroid on any given year is extremely small, but the consequences of such a collision could be catastrophic. NASA scientists continually monitor the solar system for potential threats by using powerful telescopes to search for potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids (NEAs). The program, called the Spaceguard Survey, aims to find 90% of the large, potentially dangerous, NEAs by the end of 2008. NASA researchers have their eyes on asteroid Apophis. It's possible - though not likely - that the asteroid could collide with Earth in 2036. Astronomers are still refining their estimate of how likely such a collision would be. Though the possibility of impact appears slim, researchers are wasting no time determining how best to deflect the asteroid if new estimates indicate a threat. Get more information on Apophis from NASA's Asteroids and Comet Impact Hazards program.

I'd like to meet:

The Earth, and Alan Boyle of MSNBC!

Music:

Metalica, System Of Adown, Three Days Grace, Faktion, Disturbed, 3 Doors Down, 10 Years, Breaking Benjamin, Cold, Puddle of Mudd, Godsmack, Linkin Park, Papa Roach, Rammstein, Seether, Saliva, Smile Empty Soul, Staind, Stonesour, Taproot, Theory Of a Deadman, Yellow Card, Trapt,Green Day,Stroke 9, My Chemical Romance,Blue October,Nelly Fratado, Kelly Clarkson, Aero Smith, Limp Bizkit, Janis Joplin, White Stripes, Rocin tours, Oldies are always good, and a little Hip Hop, And much more, I listen to just about everything.

Movies:

Armageddon.
Game provided by: Free Games

Books:

Bible, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search (99942) ApophisClose approach of Apophis on April 13, 2029 The white bar indicates uncertainty in the range of positions 99942 Apophis(99942) Apophis (previously known by its provisional designation 2004 MN4) is a near-Earth asteroid that caused a brief period of concern in December 2004 because initial observations indicated a relatively large probability that it would strike the Earth in 2029. However, additional observations provided improved predictions that eliminated the possibility of an impact on Earth or the Moon in 2029. However there remained a possibility that during the 2029 close encounter with Earth, Apophis would pass through a "gravitational keyhole", a precise region in space no more than about 400 meters across, that would set up a future impact on April 13, 2036. This possibility kept the asteroid at Level 1 on the Torino impact hazard scale through August 2006.Additional observations of the trajectory of Apophis revealed the "keyhole" would likely be missed and on August 5, 2006, Apophis was lowered to a Level 0 Torino impact hazard scale. As of October 19, 2006 the impact probability for April 13, 2036 is estimated at 1 in 45,000. An additional impact date in 2037 has been identified, however the impact probability for that encounter is 1 in 12.3 million.

Heroes:

God