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[MetalSlimeHunt]

Just kidding! The chances that it'll actually hit us are apparently at 0.022% (which is also apparently very high for an asteroid), and even if it does it'll probably break up in the atmosphere, and even if it doesn't it'll probably land in the ocean, and even if it doesn't it'll probably land somewhere rural and cause a Tunguska blast-esq level of destruction, but if it does land on a city we're back to being fucked again.

[Svarte Troner]

Hurry, we should take Earth, and push it somewhere else!

[Flying Dice]

Quick, we need to put a bunch of bad actors on a space shuttle and have them detonate a nuke on it!

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Quick, we need to put a bunch of bad actors on a space shuttle and have them detonate a nuke on it!

Guess what? It's already too late! We cannot possibly do anything to alter the course of this celestial object! That we are in that bind when this inevitably happens makes me ecstatic with ironic joy at this whole situation.

Now, if NYC gets wiped off the map come Febuary 2013 I shall look back on this post and cringe, but for the moment all is well in my mind.

[Max White]

Here is hoping it hits a sci fi convention, for the irony...

[Flying Dice]

Here is hoping it hits a sci fi convention, for the irony...

Better yet, a meeting of the IAU.

"Pluto says hello!"

[alway]

I actually find myself hoping it does impact some middle of nowhere place. It would certainly wake people up as to one of the major reasons we need a space program; you know, that thing whose budget we have been cutting more and more lately?

[kaijyuu]

Any particular reason we can't shoot a remote detonated nuke at it?

Unless that counts as a "spacecraft".

[sneakey pete]

Yes, but that type of space craft (remote control robot) is something we do and are doing a lot of anyway. Sending humans would be pointless and difficult.

[10ebbor10]

Any particular reason we can't shoot a remote detonated nuke at it?

Unless that counts as a "spacecraft".

It probably won't destroy the asteroid completly, resulting in radioactive asteroid pieces spreading through the atmosphere. Also, we don't really have any rockets to push a nuke further then Earth orbit. ( Sure we could cobble one toghether, but that takes time)

[Tellemurius]

Any particular reason we can't shoot a remote detonated nuke at it?

Unless that counts as a "spacecraft".

It probably won't destroy the asteroid completly, resulting in radioactive asteroid pieces spreading through the atmosphere. Also, we don't really have any rockets to push a nuke further then Earth orbit. ( Sure we could cobble one toghether, but that takes money)

fixed that

[Heliman]

*holds onto heart* jesus christ man that's one of my fears you're toying with there.

[MonkeyHead]

According to that article, it would have an efect similar to the tunguska impact, which is around 10kT of TNT. Worry more about this one. This would impact with around 500kT of TNT.

[10ebbor10]

More or less scientific impact simulator That way you can see what the effects would be.

Mesured from a distance of 10 km, assuming a completly iron meteroid and an entry speed of 11km/h (should be 8, but 11 is the min)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The projectile begins to breakup at an altitude of 7070 meters = 23200 ft
The projectile reaches the ground in a broken condition.  The mass of projectile strikes the surface at velocity 10.6 km/s = 6.57 miles/s
The impact energy is 5.06 x 10^16 Joules = 1.21 x 10^1 MegaTons.
The broken projectile fragments strike the ground in an ellipse of dimension 0.113 km by 0.11 km


Energy before atmospheric entry: 5.47 x 10^16 Joules = 1.31 x 10^1 MegaTons TNT
The average interval between impacts of this size somewhere on Earth during the last 4 billion years is 3.6 x 10^3 years

The Earth is not strongly disturbed by the impact and loses negligible mass.
The impact does not make a noticeable change in the tilt of Earth's axis (< 5 hundredths of a degree).
The impact does not shift the Earth's orbit noticeably.

Crater shape is normal in spite of atmospheric crushing; fragments are not significantly dispersed.
Transient Crater Diameter: 1.48 km ( = 0.917 miles )
Transient Crater Depth: 522 meters ( = 1710 feet )
Final Crater Diameter: 1.85 km ( = 1.15 miles )
Final Crater Depth: 393 meters ( = 1290 feet )
The crater formed is a simple crater.
The floor of the crater is underlain by a lens of broken rock debris (breccia) with a maximum thickness of 182 meters ( = 597 feet ).
At this impact velocity ( < 12 km/s), little shock melting of the target occurs.


Most ejecta is blocked by Earth's atmosphere.

At this impact velocity ( < 15 km/s), little vaporization occurs; no fireball is created, therefore, there is no thermal radiation damage.

The major seismic shaking will arrive approximately 2 seconds after impact.
Richter Scale Magnitude:  5.3
Mercalli Scale Intensity at a distance of 10 km:
Felt by all, many frightened.  Some heavy furniture moved; a few instances of fallen plaster.  Damage slight.
Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction; slight to moderate in well-built ordinary structures; considerable damage in poorly built or badly designed structures; some chimneys broken.


The air blast will arrive approximately 30.3 seconds after impact.
Peak Overpressure: 34500 Pa = 0.345 bars = 4.91 psi
Max wind velocity: 71.5 m/s = 160 mph
Sound Intensity: 91 dB (May cause ear pain)
Damage Description:
Wood frame buildings will almost completely collapse.
Glass windows will shatter.
Up to 90 percent of trees blown down; remainder stripped of branches and leaves.

[alway]

Interestingly, you have a higher overall chance of dying from an asteroid impact than from a terrorist attack.