Interesting Video of a 500km asteroid impact.

[Bryancd]

..although I don't believe we have been struck 6 times by an object that size, I do believe it happened once to primordial earth, ejecting the material which became our moon. Either way, we will get hit again, it's just a question of when.

http://www.geekologie.com/2008/09/th...uld_happen.php

[Trekkygeek]

Sorry Bryan but this link didn't seem to work mate. Anyone with this problem or is it just me?

[Bryancd]

uh, let me try again...

http://www.geekologie.com/2008/09/this_is_what_would_happen.php

[Trekkygeek]

Whoa, that doesn't look very promising does it? Great video, makes me wanna hug my kids just a little tighter. If and when it does happen, I want to be at ground zero please. Nice and quick.

[Meds]

Blimey, yeah don't think we'd get much chance with that boom.

[Geekyfanboy]

Wow.. make sure you are in a really good mood when you watch this as you won't be when it's over..

[Meds]

Still Bruce Willis will save the day.

[Trekkygeek]

Still Bruce Willis will save the day.

:roflmao

[Feathers]

Thanks for shaing that...now I'm really depressed :(

For some odd reason, this is one of the scenarios that has always terrified me - it cuts right past the logical/rational bit of my brain and into the basic bit at the back which gibbers in fear as a result.

It's not that I think this is a likely scenario or anything like that, but I think it's simply because of the sheer powerlessness of mankind to do anything about it.

Kenny's right...I obviously wasn't ina good enough mood...maybe I shouldn't have watched it!

[Bryancd]

Thanks for shaing that...now I'm really depressed :(
It's not that I think this is a likely scenario or anything like that, but I think it's simply because of the sheer powerlessness of mankind to do anything about it.

Oh, it's more than likely it's inevitable to happen. The question isn't if, it's when, and that's the saving grace. It could be 100 million years from....although by ten the sun will have gone nova and we will be either dead or gone anyway.... ;)

[Feathers]

Ah, OK - granted. I should have said 'likely scenario in my lifetime'. (which, given that I'm 40 in 5 weeks time feels shorter every day)

[Meds]

Feathers we live in England you should know for a fact that we'll be in tin bunkers eating cans of frey bentos putting up with countless recording of Vera Lynn and the home guard looking after us. We'll be fine. ;)

[Feathers]

How true :D (In my case, I'll probably go and find a tube station to sleep in for the duration.)

From a work colleague (PhD in Astronomy): A 30km asteroid will probably be enough to wipe out the planet. 500km is simply overkill.

[iceman]

Wouldn't an astroid that big cause earth to break from its orbit or in the very least part of it to break apart?