Asteroid Smashing Looks Like Nothing You Ever Imagined

[MightyGiants]

 Sep 27, 2022  NASA's Double Asteroid Redirect Test (DART) mission finished yesterday in a spectacular crash into the Asteroid Dimorphos

[MightyGiants]

Besides being a rather interesting video, I am also curious to see what the results look like.  I mean, there is some comfort in the idea that we on the planet earth might have an answer if we discover an object on a collision course with our planet, it does bring a bit of comfort.

[Jolly Blue Giant]

Besides being a rather interesting video, I am also curious to see what the results look like.  I mean, there is some comfort in the idea that we on the planet earth might have an answer if we discover an object on a collision course with our planet, it does bring a bit of comfort.

From all I've read, the crash did alter the orbit of the smaller asteroid. That should give comfort that it's possible to change an asteroid's path should it target planet Earth. But it'd take a much bigger, more explosive crash if it was a "life-on-earth-as-we-know-it" sized projectile heading straight at us

[MightyGiants]

From all I've read, the crash did alter the orbit of the smaller asteroid. That should give comfort that it's possible to change an asteroid's path should it target planet Earth. But it'd take a much bigger, more explosive crash if it was a "life-on-earth-as-we-know-it" sized projectile heading straight at us

Ric,

The speed of the collision and distance from the earth both play a role.  Depending on the type of impact, you are either going to preserve momentum (speed X mass) or kinetic energy (mass X speed squared).  Far enough off, the change in course can be barely perceptible but would be enough to cause a miss.

[Jolly Blue Giant]

Ric,

The speed of the collision and distance from the earth both play a role.  Depending on the type of impact, you are either going to preserve momentum (speed X mass) or kinetic energy (mass X speed squared).  Far enough off, the change in course can be barely perceptible but would be enough to cause a miss.

I think if it was a major body it would require a nuclear explosion or something to change course (or destroy it). I'm sure NASA engineers are working on being able to move life-threatening asteroids and this was just a baby step proving to themselves they can hit the target and in fact, change the orbit. Quite a success story. I can't imagine all the math involved to make it happen. Sorta like hitting a large caliber bullet with a BB gun and changing the direction of the bullet 

[Bill Brown]

Call for Harry Stamper.

Bill

[Jolly Blue Giant]

Call for Harry Stamper.

Bill

 

[MightyGiants]

[T200]

I'm guessing they used an ACME rocket 

[Bob In PA]

https://justthenews.com/nation/science/nasa-confirms-it-shifted-nearby-asteroids-orbit-first-ever-planetary-defense-test

I'm not sure if this is the same or a different project. Bob

[MightyGiants]

https://justthenews.com/nation/science/nasa-confirms-it-shifted-nearby-asteroids-orbit-first-ever-planetary-defense-test

I'm not sure if this is the same or a different project. Bob

Yeah, it's the same thing; the experiment was a "success."   In this case, it proved we could shift the path of astral bodies.

[LennG]

 I still wonder about these things. Like in football, it always seems to work perfectly in practice, but when the real deal comes around---well, let's hope for the best.

[MightyGiants]

I still wonder about these things. Like in football, it always seems to work perfectly in practice, but when the real deal comes around---well, let's hope for the best.

Len,

I look at it this way.  Up until now, we could do about as much about a meteor striking our planet as the dinosaurs.  I mean, thanks to our telescopes, we would know sooner than they did, but that was about it.  Now we have a potential means to avert a disaster that could wipe out a significant amount of life on this planet.  To me, that's a BFD, or for those offended by harsh language, a big deal.  That is true even if it doesn't completely work (I would think they would launch multiple attempts for a known threat so that there would be room for one or more failures.

[LennG]

Absolutely it's worth a shot.

Look at it this way, what are our other options?

I just meant, tests like these always seem to work well when let's say, there is no pressure on it. Let's hope we can say the same thing, if and hopefully not, we never have to try it for real.

[Ed Vette]

Still they need a means of scanning for early detection. There are often times where one flies by and wasn't detected until after it passed. If one hits the size of the one that extinguished the 🦖 it would kill most all life on this planet.