Astronomy / Space Detailed surface scan early 21st century style.

[winterknight]

Nasa to launch probe to investigate 'Armageddon' asteroid

Nasa is planning to launch a probe to collect rock samples from an asteroid it fears could one day hit the Earth.
The asteroid, named Bennu, can be seen from Earth as it crosses our orbit every six years.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/nasa-probe-asteroid-armageddon-bennu-space-a7164901.html

 

[Patrick_68000]

"The asteroid will pass between Earth and the moon in 2135". It is urgent to find a solution

 

[Caramel Clown]

You better rush NASA, there's only over 100 years left.

 

[Sapyx]

Detailed surface scan early 21st century style

Actually, given that it's targeting a small asteroid (about the size of a typical ED ring particle), it's more like "Prospector Limpet, early 21st century style".

I did have to laugh at the re-reporting of this story in my local paper this morning, though. They said the asteroid was 500 km across, not 500 metres. A 500km wide asteroid would be the fourth-largest asteroid in the solar system. Given that the moon is only 3500 km across, a 500 km wide asteroid passing closer than the moon would certainly qualify as being "visible from Earth". There wouldn't be much point in sending probes to one, though, because there's not a darn thing we could do about it if we saw something that big heading for us on collision course.