Is there any data available on the density of TU24? Seems that would be more important than its size. It could be the size of a grapefruit but have the density of a billiard ball. Its density would affect the probability of it hitting the Earth's surface more than its size would, right? That would also figure more prominently when trying to predict what kind of damage would result from impact, I think.

There's a lot of armchair science going on here, has anybody come across any factual data about TU24's composition? I want to know two things. Whether it's going to hit the Earth, and what is it made out of? If TU24 is a paintball, we have less to worry about. If it's a bullet, well... Anybody have any answers to those questions?

I dunno.. But you guys are right a big enuff asteroid hitting the moon could send alot of debris our way. Id imagine if it hit the moon we would get quite a meteor storm maybe lasting up to a week.

Still dont see a earth ending scenario here just my opinion though.

[edit on 20-1-2008 by ncuncfan2006]

Keep your eyes to the skies

If it is indeed plasma discharge we will be experiencing, unusual weather patterns SHOULD be evident this upcoming week. Then I'll have reason to worry.

What if the plasma discharge fries our moon?

I believe it gets the closest Feb 1st at .014 au

Excellent post! I can't believe this is the first time I've read about this asteroid. It's really making me think! I don't think I've been this shaken since the last time I watched Zeitgeist.

Someone said already that the closest approach will be on Jan 29th at .0038 AU or approximately 353,400 mi. Close, but not too close.

Yeah. That's true. But don't forget to calculate the double gravity (Earth and Moon). If it will approach us on that vector, there is a chance that it will get into our gravity field, which is already going to modify it's trajectory. And if it's going to happen, nothing will stop this little thing to hit us or the moon itself.

According to everything I ever read about asteroids killing us off on the web and seen on Tv programs this asteroid isnt big enough to cause mass extinction. Some of you guys seem to think this thing will blow us to kingdom come,

And plasma discharge there have been thousands of asteroids that have came close to the earth none of them discharged lol i dunno well see i guess


[edit on 20-1-2008 by ncuncfan2006]

[edit on 20-1-2008 by ncuncfan2006]

Originally posted by ncuncfan2006
and seen on Tv programs

[edit on 20-1-2008 by ncuncfan2006]

lol....

Originally posted by aaaauroraaaaa

Originally posted by ncuncfan2006
and seen on Tv programs

[edit on 20-1-2008 by ncuncfan2006]

lol....

Yeah your right maybe those scientist on the discovery channel programs are fake and actually Mcdonald employees and we actually know more than they do.

ncuncfan2006. No, I'm not believing it's going to cause a total destruction. But I wouldn't be happy if my city, even if my country, nor other countries would be in it's way. The Tunguska meteorite caused a relatively small destruction in a forest area. Now, if it would hit a greater city, the death toll would be more thousands. I'm just concerned about this, not about total destruction. It's still not Armageddon. If it would be, Bruce would be already in a shuttle to stop it.

Dark im not saying its no reason for concern, but id be 1000 times more worried if this was a 1 mile, 2 mile or 5 mile wide object

[edit on 20-1-2008 by ncuncfan2006]

Well. According to it's size and speed... well, it's like if a Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier with it's nuclear reactor would arrive into the atmosphere with damned great speed and would crash. Not much, but it would cause a smaller smoking crater... with some dust cloud, nice shiny VFX and SFX. Not much, but I don't want to be there, if it's lands. Maybe it's going to explode in the atmosphere, if it's going containing a bit of gas, because that's also possible and comparing this to an aircraft, which is exploding in the air... well, additional problem, because most of the wrecks can be found in this case app. 30-50 miles from the main explosion (Just remember the poor Columbia. It's debris was across three states.). Now if this beauty is going to explode in the orbit by some reason, that could cause trouble.

So as you can see, I'm just concerned about this. Too many IFs are present and too many things are possible due to the many unknowns. If it's going to hit us, if there will be this sort of scenario at all, where this "Here" will be? If it's going to pass, I will be happy.