What would you do if an asteroid half the size of the US hit the earth?

A

act.resist

Active member
Well, probably nothing because we'd be dead. The impact of an asteroid that large would be like an atomic bomb approximately 30 times more powerful than Hiroshima's bomb.

Tomorrow an asteroid 1,300 ft long is going to come 1.3 lunar distances from us. Which is pretty crazy because asteroids don't come that close very often and to be an asteroid that large is just pretty amazing. It could be just a bit closer and we'd all be blown to smithereens.

anyways, read more about it here:
http://www.space.com/30954-halloween-asteroid-flyby-facts-2015-tb145.html
 
Been studying stuff like this in astronomy this semester and it's super interesting. 1.3 lunar distances is actually really close. Although it will pose no actual threat, it's still close. The amount of damage that an asteroid that size could do is astounding.

Studies have shown that an asteroid only 1km in diameter could wipe out the majority of the human population and would end the world as we know it for 200 years or more.

NASA is currently only able to locate around .1% of all asteroids that size. That's a problem considering the amount of damage they could do to the Earth.
 
Hey OP,

Here's a map of near earth objects. Have a good one!

2007.gif
 
An asteroid half the size of the US would be equal to 30 times the Hiroshima bomb? Lol. That would be equivalent to one of the smallest nukes on our arsenal haha. Maybe 3 million times the Hiroshima bomb.

An asteroid that size would have a decent chance of knocking off enough earth to make another moon.
 
13535148:PoLaRpEaK said:
We are doomed eventually.
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13535206:californiagrown said:
An asteroid half the size of the US would be equal to 30 times the Hiroshima bomb? Lol. That would be equivalent to one of the smallest nukes on our arsenal haha. Maybe 3 million times the Hiroshima bomb.

An asteroid that size would have a decent chance of knocking off enough earth to make another moon.
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yeah you're right. my math skills are nah
 
13535206:californiagrown said:
An asteroid half the size of the US would be equal to 30 times the Hiroshima bomb? Lol. That would be equivalent to one of the smallest nukes on our arsenal haha. Maybe 3 million times the Hiroshima bomb.

An asteroid that size would have a decent chance of knocking off enough earth to make another moon.
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No, an asteroid half the size of the US would decimate the planet. Would also depend on how the asteroid impacted the Earth, but if it were a straight on hit, the Earth would explode essentially or have a crater so big that it penetrated the inner layers. Either way the earth would be done.
 
13535237:sellinger said:
No, an asteroid half the size of the US would decimate the planet. Would also depend on how the asteroid impacted the Earth, but if it were a straight on hit, the Earth would explode essentially or have a crater so big that it penetrated the inner layers. Either way the earth would be done.
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How do you think the moon was formed?
 
13535265:californiagrown said:
Yes. Which coincides with what I said... And you said was wrong lol.
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Ah, I misunderstood where you were coming from. We both have the same idea and understanding of the asteroid impact, just two different trajectories. If the hypothetical asteroid were to hit the Earth at a straight impact, a lot more damage would occur. If the asteroid of that size were to "clip" at more of an angle, yes, it would basically knock another Moon sized object into space, to put it simply.
 
13535265:californiagrown said:
Yes. Which coincides with what I said... And you said was wrong lol.
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A protoplanet hitting earth at "low" speed low angle orbit is not the same as a US size asteroid hitting earth from deep space.The planet would be done. smitherines. Like a slug going through an orange in slow motion. nothing would survive, Nothing.
 
13535265:californiagrown said:
Yes. Which coincides with what I said... And you said was wrong lol.
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A protoplanet hitting earth at "low" speed low angle orbit is not the same as a US size asteroid hitting earth from deep space.The planet would be done. smitherines. Like a slug going through an orange in slow motion. nothing would survive, Nothing.
 
13535115:DINKLEBERG said:
Hey OP,

Here's a map of near earth objects. Have a good one!

2007.gif
Click to expand...

I was going to say somthing along these lines after it came into our atmosphere it would shrink. Still have an impact though. I'd probally spend my last days on NS making the argument of what people are worth saving.
 
13535267:sellinger said:
If the asteroid of that size were to "clip" at more of an angle, yes, it would basically knock another Moon sized object into space, to put it simply.
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the accretion theory described in that NASA link doesn't really match your explanation here.
 
13535752:Mingg said:
If we survived and it snowed I would ski on it
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if the earth was hit by an asteroid that large like it was said the earth would A. be in smithereens or B. be covered in magma death explosions times infinity and everyone would be dead no matter what unless youre chuck norris or metal mario

if a smaller asteroid hit the earth, which it has (reference: chelyabinsk, russia) the asteroid explodes into millions of little pieces.
 
13536480:butterslut. said:
if the earth was hit by an asteroid that large like it was said the earth would A. be in smithereens or B. be covered in magma death explosions times infinity and everyone would be dead no matter what unless youre chuck norris or metal mario

if a smaller asteroid hit the earth, which it has (reference: chelyabinsk, russia) the asteroid explodes into millions of little pieces.
Click to expand...

then i guess i will have to ski in heaven
 
It would only be 30 times more powerful than Little Boy? It was only 15 kilotons while the largest nuclear detonation on earth was the 50-60 megaton Tsar Bomba. It was detonated in a remote region of Russia but still didn't do any external damage aside from dumping a bunch of radiation in the atmosphere
 
Situations remind me of this really shitty movie where this big fuckin asteroid comes to earth and shit. Pieces break off and hit prematurely, and these fuckers are still big as fuck. They make like fuckin 3000 foot tall tsunamis and shit. The military tries to nuke the motherfucker but it sort of turns into 'well you just took our problem and gave it a nuke, dank.' It's pretty much like poking a leopard that's about to kill you on its dick. The entire thing ends with a mom and dad kissing while the big fuckin thing plows the shit out of everyone. Cried tbh
 
13536480:butterslut. said:
if the earth was hit by an asteroid that large like it was said the earth would A. be in smithereens or B. be covered in magma death explosions times infinity and everyone would be dead no matter what unless youre chuck norris or metal mario

if a smaller asteroid hit the earth, which it has (reference: chelyabinsk, russia) the asteroid explodes into millions of little pieces.
Click to expand...

DAM u must be smart
 
topic:butterslut. said:
Well, probably nothing because we'd be dead. The impact of an asteroid that large would be like an atomic bomb approximately 30 times more powerful than Hiroshima's bomb.
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an asteroid half the size of the USA would be a lot more than 30 times more powerful than Little Boy. your math is a little off - It would be powerful beyond comprehension. life on earth would cease in minutes
 
13539955:Blindsurfer said:
an asteroid half the size of the USA would be a lot more than 30 times more powerful than Little Boy. your math is a little off - It would be powerful beyond comprehension. life on earth would cease in minutes
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Would it be? how much of that would burn up in the atmosphere while entering earth?
 
13539965:nocturnal said:
Would it be? how much of that would burn up in the atmosphere while entering earth?
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quite a bit, but at half the size of the USA, that is almost beyond comprehension
 
13539965:nocturnal said:
Would it be? how much of that would burn up in the atmosphere while entering earth?
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Depends on the angle of entry, the material makeup of the asteroid, and the general shape/shapes of the asteroid.

The answer would still be: not enough to make a difference.
 
13541790:butterslut. said:
thats neat. i hope if an asteroid that large strikes the earth, it hits you head on.
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same! playing chicken with a celestial body, what a badass way to kick the bucket.

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If an asteroid half the size of the US was going to hit the Earth it would fall into a different category than this asteroid, which is a few times larger than the space shuttle. And as said before, the Hiroshima bomb would be like an ant fart compared to an asteroid half the size of the US. Or every nuke combined for that matter.
 
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