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Post by authorgonal on Oct 31, 2011 17:48:06 GMT
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Post by glactus on Oct 31, 2011 19:27:29 GMT
Duck for cover eh! The point is that if Shoemaker Levy 9 can crash into Jupiter, we have not seen the last of the objects that crash into the planets of our Solar System, and in the future one may be earmarked for Earth, who knows.  The Planet we call home  |
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Post by authorgonal on Oct 31, 2011 20:06:18 GMT
As I understand it, it's like a lot of the 'disaster scenarios'. It's when, not if. But the 'Windows of time' mean it could be an awful long time yet (or tomorrow, lol )
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Post by glactus on Nov 1, 2011 1:43:18 GMT
luckily for us we have an Asteroid surveillance system in place and maybe we can work out ways tp divert any threat away from Earth, probably by using nuclear energy.   |
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Post by authorgonal on Nov 9, 2011 18:04:18 GMT
It's the small ones that could wipe a city or two that are the problem - a size that's not being checked
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Post by glactus on Nov 9, 2011 19:32:21 GMT
Yes that's the problem, The big ones can be diverted, maybe by nuclear energy, but the small ones are more difficult, not only to detect, but to divert, and blowing them apart would be disasterous. Maybe civilizations are not meant to last for more than 5 thousand years, being destroyed by some cosmic disaster like that which wiped out the dinosaurs. Now we know why ET has not payed us a visit.  Better keep a sharp look out eh!!  Sombrero |
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Post by starrdawg on Nov 12, 2011 13:06:53 GMT
There are thousands of meteorites that hit Earth every day. Most are very small, and dont leave a visible trace. Still, there are many "rock hunters" who search for them with metal detectors, as the going price is $12.00 per gram for the "common variety".
FYI: there are special purpose programs that can be installed on computer controlled metal detector that are used for meteorites only.
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Post by glactus on Nov 13, 2011 3:22:18 GMT
Well I didn't know that R.J.-very interesting. Years ago I used to go to the gemfields at Emerald, a little township on the gem fields in central Queensland and used a metal detector that you could hire from the store and receive directions on how to use it and where to go. I also searched for sapphires and garnets there and still have some with me today, just so I can think back sometimes. Don't forget it was the asteroids that brought the gemstones to Earth. Emerald is the place where all the commercial mining takes place, mostly for sapphires which are 20 yards down in a huge layer. These diggers and submersion tanks to separate the gems from the soil are on a strip 6 miles long with about 50 operators there. It is a huge complex. I was taken there by a friend who had a cobber called Bill, a commercial operator, and we both went to see him and his set up. After we met, Bill told me to go to the shack and open one of the old vertical freezer chests that have been converted into cabinets (no freezing unit). The shack was about 40 yards away. I hesitated, waiting for him to come with me but he insisted I go on my own. So I went across, opened a chest and there before me were huge plastic bags full of thousands of sapphires waiting for the Chinese bloke who has a standing order to take all Bill could dig up. Bill is a multi millionaire but he gets around in baggy torn jeans and has a beard hanging down to his shoulders. What a character. Well, when I got back, visibly impressed, I asked Bill why he let me go on my own as I could have easily put a handfull in my pocket, and he said "Oh! you wouldn't do that, the last bloke who tried to do that was my brother, and my pet snake got him"  |
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