From the Gonzo

Foam troubles, a near-miss and ‘The New Crack’ July 3, 2006

The astronomical community is abuzz with manned space flight. A twice scrubbed shuttle mission is set to lift off tomorrow, in a first ever Independence Day launch, despite concerns over a recently formed and discovered crack in the foam insulation. (BugMeNot). In fact they aren’t going to let the problem delay the launch. (more…)

Doomsday will have to wait June 23, 2006

As is generally the case with Near Earth Asteroids both Apophis and 2004 VD17 have had their chances of impacting Earth drastically decreased. (more…)

Moon bashing June 23, 2006

This is a little old but check out this cool video of a metoroid hitting the moon.

Some space notes June 11, 2006

I found this new link to the NASA TV Channel. This way you can avoid all the rigamarole of the NASA site trying to find the NASA TV channel, if you actually ever felt like it. (more…)

Asteroid impact effects May 12, 2006

If you saw my last post, Asteroids and comets, and actually read it, you may have noticed that the two small objects I listed were also the two objects, out of the four, which were most likely to impact Earth, albeit that still represents a small chance.

I was interested in what types of effects the impact of a 7 meter wide object (such as 2006 JY26) or a 40 m wide object (such as 2003 SG344) would have on planet Earth. To that end the Department of Planetary Sciences Lunar and Planetary Lab at the University of Arizona has developed an interesting web based impact effects calculator. (more…)

Asteroids and comets May 12, 2006

Some Near Earth Asteroid updates:

(more…)

Asteroid Watch I April 12, 2006

Currently watching JPL NEO site for information on 2004 VD17, Apophis, 2000 SG344. The following was taken directly from http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/#legend. (more…)

Near Earth asteroid monitoring April 7, 2006

2004 VD17

This Near Earth Asteroid stands at a 1 in 1,200 chance of impact on May 4, 2102. It has slowly inched up and down since it moved up to Torino Scale 2 at the end of Februrary. (more…)

VD17, to impact or not to impact March 23, 2006

The fickle nature of asteroid hunting is proven time and again, just monitor NASA’s Near Earth Object Program Web site for proof of that.

Since late February the NEO site has listed asteroid 2004 VD17 at the top of Earth impact risk list, Torino Scale 2. While it is still at the top of that list, its chance of impacting Earth has fluctated wildly over the last half month or so.

Yesterday, VD17 stood at a 1 in 1790 chance of impacting Earth. A quick look at the NEO page today shows that the chances have, once again, increased with recent observations. (more…)

2004 VD17 Update March 7, 2006

Keeping tabs on Near Earth Asteroid 2004 VD17 and still and finding that its chance of Earth impact continues to inch upward.

The MSM picked up the story after New Scientist published a piece on March 1 about the increased risk of a 2004 VD17 Earth impact in 2102. (Ahem. Five days after I blogged about it.) (more…)

Asteroid reaches two on Torino Scale February 26, 2006

Wow. I was kind of stunned when I saw this but an asteroid, 2004 VD17, has moved up the Torino Scale, to a two. Previously, only one other near earth object has reached as high as two on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale, that is Apophis, which briefly went as high as four. (more…)

Close encounters of the asteroid kind February 20, 2006

Apophis, the asteroid with a slim chance of impacting the Earth in 2036 (I blogged about it here), will make history in 2029, regardless of whether it hits Earth or not.

On Friday April 13, 2029 the asteroid will approach Earth and pass within 30,000 km (18,600 miles). That’s really close, really, really close. It will miss Earth but will provide skywatchers with a show unparalleled in recorded history. (more…)

Apophis collision more likely February 16, 2006

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration maintains a Web site which disseminates information on Near Earth Objects. Link to it here.

What is a NEO, you ask? (more…)