We were 6 hours from the end of everything....

[TwoSolitudes]

4581 Asclepius (pronounced /əˈskliːpiəs/ ə-SKLEE-pee-əs) is a small asteroid of the Apollo group that can approach Earth’s orbit to within 600,000 km (0.6 Gm); it was discovered in 1989 by the American astronomers Henry E. Holt (1929-) and Norman G. Thomas (1930-), and named after the Greek demigod of Medicine and Healing. Asclepius (1989 FC) passed by the Earth on March 22, 1989 at a distance of 700,000 km, causing some media attention at that time.

The asteroid passed through the exact position where the Earth was only 6 hours before. Astronomers say that had the asteroid hit Earth, the experience of impact would have been equivalent to one Hiroshima-sized atomic bomb detonating every second for 50 days[citation needed]. Subsequent discoveries revealed that a whole class of such objects exists, and that an object the size of the one which just missed Earth in March 1989, probably comes by undetected once every two or three years. "On the cosmic scale of things, that was a close call," said Dr. Henry Holt.

Asclepius will continue to make close approaches to Earth, coming to within 30 Gm 12 times in the 21st century. But the next pass comparable to the 1989 one mentioned above will not take place until 2189, at about 980,000 km.

A paper, authored by Tom Gilchrist, outlining the hazards of a potential impact with Asclepius has recently[vague] been published in Geoverse, a British e-journal that publishes undergraduate research.

[Yoccos]

Very interesting read. I took some astronomy courses in college (Im not happy to admit I didnt retain a lot of it) and I still can't wrap my head around the universe. Its very humbling when you really think about it. For me, it really helps put things into perspective. Thanks again for the read.

[Esox]

We're due for an impact. We should get our butts out to some of these asteroids to do some mining and even blow one up for practice. When I say we, I mean the U.S. The worst thing we ever did was institute the space shuttle program instead of exploring. We should be on Mars by now. Maybe even Titan. I love anything space related and it's time we got back to exploring it. If we don't, the Chinese certainly will.

[Yoccos]

I agree with this. The best way to learn and get information is to explore it all firsthand.

We're due for an impact. We should get our butts out to some of these asteroids to do some mining and even blow one up for practice. When I say we, I mean the U.S. The worst thing we ever did was institute the space shuttle program instead of exploring. We should be on Mars by now. Maybe even Titan. I love anything space related and it's time we got back to exploring it. If we don't, the Chinese certainly will.

[Hanks]

whew!!!......my thanks go out to Harry Stamper, Rock Hound, Bear, Chick, Col. Sharpe, Watts, and AJ for landing on the asteroid, drilling a hole to drop a nuclear weapon into it, and getting off safely (except for Harry) before it was blown into 2 halves which both missed us

[TC]

whew!!!......my thanks go out to Harry Stamper, Rock Hound, Bear, Chick, Col. Sharpe, Watts, and AJ for landing on the asteroid, drilling a hole to drop a nuclear weapon into it, and getting off safely (except for Harry) before it was blown into 2 halves which both missed us

LMAO thanks! what's worse is that you know all of their names. god, i hated that aerosmith song!

[China Cat>Rider]

whew!!!......my thanks go out to Harry Stamper, Rock Hound, Bear, Chick, Col. Sharpe, Watts, and AJ for landing on the asteroid, drilling a hole to drop a nuclear weapon into it, and getting off safely (except for Harry) before it was blown into 2 halves which both missed us

LOL...I was just thinking the same thing. Apparently we have WAY more near misses like this than anyone realizes. If they announced it every time nobody would ever be able to sleep at night.

[Hanks]

love that movie....it's always on and a definite 'click and stick' for me too...

LMAO thanks! what's worse is that you know all of their names. god, i hated that aerosmith song!

[One-T]

whew!!!......my thanks go out to Harry Stamper, Rock Hound, Bear, Chick, Col. Sharpe, Watts, and AJ for landing on the asteroid, drilling a hole to drop a nuclear weapon into it, and getting off safely (except for Harry) before it was blown into 2 halves which both missed us

HAHAHAHA, man that made me LOL for a minute

[Gaijin_Golfer]

We're due for an impact. We should get our butts out to some of these asteroids to do some mining and even blow one up for practice. When I say we, I mean the U.S. The worst thing we ever did was institute the space shuttle program instead of exploring. We should be on Mars by now. Maybe even Titan. I love anything space related and it's time we got back to exploring it. If we don't, the Chinese certainly will.
The only question being how would we pay for it. Its not as if the world's economy is booming and we've got money to spare anyways.

[Esox]

The only question being how would we pay for it. Its not as if the world's economy is booming and we've got money to spare anyways.

Oh, I'm sure there's a little wiggle room in the budget somewhere. Not to mention a big space program would create jobs and is an investment in the future. There's a book called A Case for Mars that lays out how it could be done at a reasonable cost. We just need to not be afraid to take a few risks. Like we did when we went to the moon.

Kevin