Surprise Asteroid Just Buzzed Earth — Almost Killing Us ALL!!!

Published on March 2nd, 2009

Surprise Asteroid Just Buzzed Earth — This was the size of a 10-story building.

Sky-watchers in Asia, Australia, and the Pacific islands welcomed a surprise guest earlier today: an asteroid that passed just 41,010 miles (66,000 kilometers) above Earth.

Discovered only days ago, asteroid 2009 DD45 zipped between our planet and the moon at 13:44 universal time (8:44 a.m. ET). The asteroid was moving at about 12 miles (20 kilometers) a second when it was closest to Earth.

“We get objects passing fairly close, or closer than this, every few months,” Timothy Spahr, director of the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center in Massachusetts, said in an email.

“Also, though, note these are only the ones that are discovered. Many more pass this close undetected”—as asteroid 2009 DD45 nearly did.

Astronomers didn’t notice the oncoming asteroid until February 28, when it showed up as a faint dot in pictures taken at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia.

66 users responded in " Surprise Asteroid Just Buzzed Earth — Almost Killing Us ALL!!! "

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# 1 888 said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 4:58 pm

“We get objects passing fairly close, or closer than this, every few months,”

That explains it all.
Are you going to use the same childish “Surprise Asteroid Just Buzzed Earth — Almost Killing Us ALL!!!” header every few months?

Our detection tools are getting more advanced every year. While 50 years ago we were basically blind as to what is flying out there, nowadays we can trace shit leaving ISS.
So, you bet in few years we will discover even more of such asteroids “nearly killing us all” on a daily basis.

# 2 Ken in Berkeley said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 4:58 pm

That asteroid only missed us by 5 diameters of the Earth. That is a pretty damn close call.

# 3 Maxwell Smart said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 4:59 pm

“Missed it by that much…”

# 4 Dallas said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 5:01 pm

With Bush’s track record for attracting disasters, you know the outcome would have been different not 45 days ago.

# 5 Paul said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 5:09 pm

Wait … wasn’t this the test that Joe Biden alluded to last year?

# 6 Tony said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 5:18 pm

LoL #1, can’t you tell when it is sarcasm on teh interwebz?

# 7 Paddy-O said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 5:19 pm

Of course they don’t have clue as to its composition, which is key in figuring its damage potential…

# 8 888 said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 5:32 pm

#6
I can, but can Dvorak?

# 9 Glidedon said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 5:50 pm

This is exactly why I don’t worry about so called climate change.

One of these meteors could change everything instantly or the sun could cease to generate sun spots like it is now and begin the new ice age.

# 10 888 said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 5:59 pm

#9
You left out “the Rupture”

# 11 Hugh Ripper said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 6:17 pm

Never fear! Paddy-O is an expert in asteriod risk analysis! All we need is a hyperecombobulator to provide the mass spectrum compositional analysis and he’ll be able to figure out its damage potential and save us! And all without a flux capacitor!

# 12 RSweeney said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 6:27 pm

We must reverse the polarity.

# 13 Mr Diesel said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 6:34 pm

#11 Hugh Ripper

Paddy’s statement is far more accurate and relevant than your petulant response.

You obviously know very little about risk analysis.
I’m guessing you know even less about materials composition or you would know that a ten mile long chunk of ice would do a lot less damage than nickel iron.

While both would be a bad thing when it struck the atmosphere one would be substantially worse.

# 14 Miss_X2b said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 6:43 pm

Oh darn, they missed….

# 15 Hugh Ripper said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 6:45 pm

#13 When was the last time a chunk of ice was detected flying though space, apart from comets?

As for risk analysis, if we can see the friggen thing till it hits us, we dont know where it will land and theres no way to know what its made of, whats the point? It will either kill us all or it wont.

# 16 Sinn Fein said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 7:09 pm

We don’t have time for extinction! We’re too damned busy trying to kill each other as it is!!!

# 17 The Warden said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 7:10 pm

It’s obvious why these hack scientist missed it. They were too busy making up bogus global warming stats and were too preoccupied to look up at the sky.

# 18 The Warden said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 7:12 pm

It would be a GAS if a meteor did fall and land on Mister MusTURD.

# 19 Cap'nKangaroo said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 7:17 pm

Does this explain how the chinese drove their lunar lander into the moon? Rubbernecking the big rock flying by and forgot to pay attention to the deceleration burn.

# 20 Buzz said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 7:33 pm

Headline by Chicken Little.

# 21 denacron said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 7:35 pm

#10
“the Rupture”

Sounds painful! Visit an Internist quick!

# 22 chuck said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 7:45 pm

And Obama raised his hands and said “Stop!” and the asteroid was deflected harmlessly away.

# 23 Giant Lizards from space said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 8:03 pm

What next ?
Are giant lizards going to come off the asteroids and do us all in ?

# 24 faxon said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 8:10 pm

Now THAT’S a stimulus package.

# 25 GregA said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 8:44 pm

#24,

Thats what she said!

# 26 Miguel said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 9:44 pm

C’mon, let’s be serious, it wouldn’t kill us all, it would only be able to do damage on a Tunguska scale – like a big nuclear blast. Could wipe out a large city but not ‘kill us all’.

However, there’s asteroids out there that could even do worse than kill us all…

# 27 888 said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 9:49 pm

#22
hahaha

but
quit citing New York Times!

# 28 pedro said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 10:17 pm

#4 Keep living in the past. It’s the best thing for your mental health.

#22 Is that why we see Michelle all alone in that pic taken in the White House?

#23 Giant lizards… Don’t be silly. We all know is the Silver Surfer that’s gonna come next.

# 29 Neal said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 10:46 pm

Meanwhile, while we’re all gazing skywards at something that heppens every few weeks, someone’s slipping through a bill to make it legal to take money out of our back pockets while we’re gazing skywards.

# 30 888 said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 10:52 pm

#29
“our back pockets” is very very incorrect.

Yesterday’s debt already carries to the next generation.
This new stimulus can’t be paid until children of children of our grandchildren mature and pay taxes. Thats with silly assumption that none of the next generations won’t add to it any penny

# 31 GF said, on March 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 pm

Somebody warn Moonbase Alpha!

# 32 ehwood said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 12:30 am

#29: Or we could just forget the whole mess. Declare all of this fiat currency worthless as it truly is and start all over. Wouldn’t that be neat?

As for the asteroid, I’m with Miguel that this one wasn’t that dangerous. It would have given us some interesting weather, no doubt, but no end of the human race.

I do wonder, though, whether we’re destined to meet with a “hammer” meteor at some point. Imagine an impact similar to Mercury’s massive impact. It suffered an impact great enough to thrust rock out at the opposite end of the planet. I’d fancy seeing one of the big, round asteroids like Ceres zoom by, actually. At least that would be visible and would even resemble the moon if it were close enough.

# 33 Mr. Fusion said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 5:07 am

#11, Hugh,

Cow-Patty doesn’t need a flux capacitor. He has found he can substitute his left middle finger probing his colon as more than an adequate substitute.

But then he thought assteroids were those painful things growing on his butt hole.

Just remember kids, close counts in horse shoes, hand grenades, and a close shave. Asteroids are not in the list.

# 34 jimbo said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 5:22 am

#19 – Best post here

# 35 Paddy-O said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 6:03 am

#15 Hugh asked, “#13 When was the last time a chunk of ice was detected flying though space, apart from comets?”

Meteorites are classified into three types: irons, composed of 90 percent iron and 10 percent nickel), (representing about 5 percent of meteor falls), stony-irons, of mixed composition (1 percent of meteor falls), and stones (95 percent of meteor falls).

Probably a stone type. They tend to break up in the upper atmosphere and scatter long before they hit the ground.

# 36 Mr. Fusion said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 6:19 am

#35, Cow-Paddy, Ignorant Shit Talking Sociopath, Retired Mall Rent-A-Cop, Pretend Constitutional Scholar, Fake California Labor Law Expert, Pseudo Military Historian, Phony Climate Scientist, Real Leading Troll Extraordinare, AND Asstrologist

Gee !!! I am so amazed !!! You can determine the composition of this asstroid with only the middle finger on your left hand. The professionals didn’t know what its composition is, but you do. Wow, I am just so amazed.

By the way, you never did answer the question about Joe the Plumber being better off today or after the Obama tax breaks and your “energy tax” increase.

# 37 drunner2 said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 6:52 am

Too bad it didn’t hit. Sigh, maybe next time…

# 38 Tony said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 8:26 am

If one eventually hits, I hope it drops in the middle east…

# 39 chuck said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 8:41 am

If the next asteroid hits us (and doesn’t destroy the whole planet), will it be blamed on man-made global warming?

# 40 smartalix said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 10:11 am

The fact that we don’t have any real contingency plan if we do detect an earthbound asteroid is the real problem.

# 41 Paddy-O said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 10:13 am

# 40 smartalix said, “The fact that we don’t have any real contingency plan if we do detect an earthbound asteroid is the real problem.”

Correct. The only possible way to handle would be with nukes. The liberal left would rather we die than use what technology we have to save Earth.

# 42 Mr. Fusion said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 11:57 am

#41, Cow-Paddy, Ignorant Shit Talking Sociopath, Retired Mall Rent-A-Cop, Pretend Constitutional Scholar, Fake California Labor Law Expert, Pseudo Military Historian, Phony Climate Scientist, Leading Troll Extraordinare, and Asstrologist

The liberal left would rather we die than use what technology we have to save Earth.

Another broad brush? And which post suggests liberals would want the meteor to have hit us? Oh, right, the wing nut RIGHT.

# 43 amodedoma said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 12:21 pm

Probrably would have been more interesting if it would have hit. 10 stories, with the right trajectory, sounds like another Tunguska. The one that killed the dinosaurs was the size of Mt Everest.

# 44 grog said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 1:19 pm

i personally blame the obama administration and its socialist policies for this, and for everything else.

# 45 Hugh Ripper said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 4:53 pm

#40 Smartalix

Personally I plan to run around in circles screaming ‘Oh my god – oh my god’ until the shockwave scatters me over a wide area.

# 46 Paddy-O said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 5:08 pm

# 42 Mr. Fusion said, “Another broad brush?”

So, you support orbiting nuke missile platforms?

# 47 daringdragoon said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 5:52 pm

If we had only known about the approaching asteroid, we could have sent Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck up there to help stop it.

# 48 Stars & Bars said, on March 3rd, 2009 at 8:39 pm

#42 Mr. CommieFusion…

Space crap is attracted to Earth because of increased Carbon in the atmosphere. Al Gore and the Gorebots can raise taxes on the middle class to prevent an asteroid impact. We can call the program “The Strategic Defense Initiative” or how about something catchy like “Star Wars”. I’ll even let Gore take credit for the idea.

# 49 Mr. Fusion said, on March 4th, 2009 at 1:08 am

#46,

# 42 Mr. Fusion said, “Another broad brush?”

So, you support orbiting nuke missile platforms?

I think that’s code for admitting you’re a pedophile?

# 50 bobbo said, on March 4th, 2009 at 1:21 am

I think some money should be spent on early detection of these interlopers. We have the technology and we are now aware of the danger.

Silly not to protect ourselves better than we evidently are.

I’ve never understood the argument that blasting a meteor to bits was ill advised because “some” of the pieces could still hit the earth. Big Whoop. An improbable minimum maybe versus a definite huge impact DICTATES we blow those mother up as far away from earth as possible, take our chances thereafter.

NOTE–as this meteor shows, we can be quite accurate in projecting its course. Do we know/want this thing to collide with us 1.5 years from now?

Too bad the meteor has to be “godless” before we are motivated to protect ourselves.

# 51 Mr. Fusion said, on March 4th, 2009 at 5:15 am

#50, Bobbo,

Too bad the meteor has to be “godless” before we are motivated to protect ourselves.

ha ha ha ha, oh, so very true.

I agree with nuking them in space. So what if some large chunks give a light show. The force of the blast should propel most of the pieces in all directions except the path towards the earth. Later earth orbits would get a light show.

For the biggest bang, we might want to use some of those older USSR 50 megaton Continent Cleaners. If one of those babies couldn’t do the job, then we’re screwed anyway.

One problem you’ve missed is that this asteroid wasn’t picked up until it was almost upon us. It is only once we know what and where can we figure out the rest. Even then, this one is estimated at between 20 and 50 meters in diameter. That is pretty unsure to me.

One problem though, is our technology capable of hitting a moving target, 100 meters across several hundred thousand miles away?

# 52 Paddy-O said, on March 4th, 2009 at 6:16 am

#51 “One problem though, is our technology capable of hitting a moving target, 100 meters across several hundred thousand miles away?”

We targeted and impacted something on a comet.

# 53 Mr. Fusion said, on March 4th, 2009 at 7:38 am

#52, Cow-Paddy, Ignorant Shit Talking Sociopath, Retired Mall Rent-A-Cop, Pretend Constitutional Scholar, Fake California Labor Law Expert, Pseudo Military Historian, Phony Climate Scientist, Leading Troll Extraordinare, and Asstrologist

We targeted and impacted something on a comet.

Actually they didn’t. They put the impactor directly in the path of the comet and allowed the comet to run it down. It also took a lot of planning to predict the path to take to put the impactor in for the impact. By having the comet hit the impactor they could decrease the speed difference between the satellite and the 23,000 MPH comet, giving them more maneuvering room.

Oh right!!! You don’t check these things out.

# 54 Paddy-O said, on March 4th, 2009 at 7:44 am

#53 http://spacedaily.com/news/deepimpact-05g.html

Anyway, regardless of your lack of knowledge; predicting the “path” for a collision is exactly what would be needed to hit an asteroid. The game is to reach an EXACT point in space.

Did you REALLY go to college? Did you get a science or lib degreee?

# 55 Mr. Fusion said, on March 4th, 2009 at 8:47 am

I really hate it when the spam filter stops my posts. I’m breaking this up into two pieces again.

#54, Cow-Paddy, Ignorant Shit Talking Sociopath, Retired Mall Rent-A-Cop, Pretend Constitutional Scholar, Fake California Labor Law Expert, Pseudo Military Historian, Phony Climate Scientist, Leading Troll Extraordinare, and Asstrologist

The final prelude to impact begins early on July 3 EDT (July 2 PDT), when the flyby spacecraft releases the impactor into the path of the onrushing comet.

# 56 Mr. Fusion said, on March 4th, 2009 at 8:49 am

part two, damned if the filter didn’t stop just two links.

The larger “flyby” spacecraft carries a smaller “impactor” spacecraft to Tempel 1 and releases it into the comet’s path for a planned collision.

# 57 Mr. Fusion said, on March 4th, 2009 at 8:49 am

part three

The impactor was maneuvered to plant itself in front of the comet, so that 9P/Tempel would collide with it.

Hmmm, three references, all traced back to NASA. Yup, I would think that belies your common science stuff.

# 58 Paddy-O said, on March 4th, 2009 at 8:54 am

So, confusion, did you get a science degree of a lib arts?

# 59 bobbo said, on March 4th, 2009 at 9:03 am

#51–Fusion==”One problem though, is our technology capable of hitting a moving target, 100 meters across several hundred thousand miles away?” // Gosh, I would certainly hope that has been within our capability for years? No evasive manuevers or change of course from a meteor. All thats needed is radar guidance and a proximity fuse. Simple, No?

This very meteor is a most excellent example of what we need to prepare for. “Within the orbit of the moon” and will return 1.5 years from now. We have been warned. We have its path and its eta. If its going to hit us, shouldn’t we blow it apart==and we have to be ready to do that.

I’m putting this issue on my calendar to check on every once in a while- – - just for fun. Its scifi stuff but real. Imagine 1.5 years from now minus two days and we get told of an impact coming and we don’t have time to launch anything against it?

bummer.

# 60 Paddy-O said, on March 4th, 2009 at 9:10 am

# 59 bobbo said, “We have been warned. We have its path and its eta.”

The n>3 body problem is problematic. Thus, we don’t have its path.

We need to have multiple platforms in various Earth & lunar orbits. In addition, tracking radar in similar positions.

# 61 Mr. Fusion said, on March 4th, 2009 at 10:51 am

#59, Bobbo,

Gosh, I would certainly hope that has been within our capability for years? No evasive manuevers or change of course from a meteor. All thats needed is radar guidance and a proximity fuse. Simple, No?

It sure sounds simple. In fact, these things are usually traveling quite fast by our relative standards. For the Temple 1 comet I mentioned above, what NASA did, after years of thought, was position the space craft in the expected path of the comet. The comet was moving at about 23,000 MPH faster and came up from behind the craft and literally ran it over. (sort of like a Republican slowing down the Stimulus package )

A big question would be, how much time do they have to program the missile to impact the meteor and from what direction is it coming.

Since we usually pick these up by seeing sunlight reflected off of them, we didn’t see this one until it was near our moon. It was just too small. At those distances, radar is ineffective as any reflection is spread over too large an area.

# 62 bobbo said, on March 4th, 2009 at 11:04 am

61–fusion==something in the time line isn’t adding up. the OP says we had 24-48 hours notice of this meteor. So–we launch a rocket in the KNOWN path of the meteor, use radar just to fine tune the approach and to gauge distance and set the bomb off. I don’t think the meteors speed is very difficult for doppler radar to measure. I doubt the rocket would actually be on an actual collision with the meteor but even that might damage the meteor enough or change its course enough to “save” the earth.

If we can land on Mars, I see no trick here at all as long as we remember which measuring system we are using?

# 63 Mr. Fusion said, on March 4th, 2009 at 6:28 pm

#62, Bobbo,

I could be wrong. The problem is the distances. Using radar at those distances doesn’t work. First the meteors aren’t very reflective, second you are spreading the return over hundreds of thousands of miles. On earth, long range radar is only a few hundred miles.

Maybe NASA or the Air Force has some method they haven’t told us about. But, as far as I know, currently meteor detection is almost all done by visual observation and comparing pictures from one day to the next to see if one spot of light has moved.

Hey, I wish we could lock on when they are still 1,000,000 miles away, but I don’t think it is feasible at this time.

# 64 Rick Cain said, on March 5th, 2009 at 7:22 am

This is what happens when you elect a black president. Doesn’t anybody learn the lessons of Hollywood movies?

The president is always black when earth gets hit by an asteroid!

# 65 Seek for the truth said, on March 11th, 2009 at 10:20 am

That would not have killed us all! To everyone out there who would like to know the truth on allot of things, please go to my website at http://www.seek4thetruth.com if there is a planet you should be scared of, it is Planet Nibiru which is on its way and will cause major earth destruction! And then some.

# 66 ssbigdog said, on March 19th, 2009 at 6:00 am

hey guys. im a virgin and i love to read blogs about asteroids and comment on them! gee its dandy! @(o)_(o)@ look i made a monkey!!! yay!

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