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Interactive: asteroid strikes

Published on June 30, 2022

Learn about the impacts of comet and asteroid strikes : tatonomusic/Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/photos/RR6Zqr-2l5o) CC BY 4.0 Learn about the impacts of comet and asteroid strikes : tatonomusic/Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/photos/RR6Zqr-2l5o) CC BY 4.0

What would an asteroid or comet impact be like?

What would an asteroid or comet impact be like? That depends on lots of things, such as how big it is, how fast it’s travelling – and how close you are to the impact site.

Originally published under Creative Commons by 360info™.

Editors Note: Interactive: see how often comets and asteroids strike the Earth

Editor
James Goldie
James Goldie, Data and Digital Storytelling Lead, 360info

Special Report Articles
If an asteroid threat emerged, Earth would need to be ready. Scientists are continually working to give the planet the best range of defensive strategies. : Michael Joiner, 360 info CC BY 4.0

Backgrounder: 564 words
With NASA announcing an asteroid is on a possible collision course with Earth 23 years from now, 360info looks at the planet’s early warning systems.
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1 interactive

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Asteroids Deluxe was released in 1981. Its vector graphics were tinted blue, the asteroids spun, and new ‘killer satellites’ aimed for the player’s spaceship, breaking into smaller satellites when fired upon. : Steven A. Miller, Flickr CC BY 2.0

It was a few white lines on a black screen, but Asteroids became Atari’s most popular arcade game.

Deflecting asteroids

As arcade games died out, Asteroids lived on
This unexpected meteor hammered home to the UN that the world needed an asteroid alert system. : M. Ahmetvaleev (NASA) CC0

Spurred by a near miss, the world built an alert system to detect asteroids heading for Earth. But it’s not clear who would decide what to do next.

Deflecting asteroids

How an asteroid near-miss shocked the UN
Asteroid impacts are unique disaster scenarios because they can be prevented altogether if we have enough warning. : NASA/Goddard/Debbie Mccallum, Flickr CC BY 2.0

If an asteroid threat emerged, Earth would need to be ready. Scientists are continually working to give the planet the best range of defensive strategies.

Deflecting asteroids

Always look up: Earth’s top 7 asteroid defences
This telescope monitors for near-Earth objects from Arizona. : Daniel Oberhaus CC 4.0

It’s unlikely to happen, but if a large space object ever hit Earth, the outcome would be calamitous. Humanity needs to start preparing now.

Deflecting asteroids

Real heroes plan ahead: collaboration to protect Earth
Amateur astronomers using good-quality off the shelf equipment contribute to our tracking of near-Earth objects : Unistellar All rights reserved

Even with millions in funding and super high-tech equipment, the world’s space agencies need a helping hand from people at home.

Deflecting asteroids

The amateur asteroid hunters giving NASA a run for its money
Sending a sparecraft up to deflect an asteroid is not just a matter of launching and waiting – if only matters were that simple. : Earth-impacting Asteroid by Kevin M Gill available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/53460575@N03/27953609286 CC BY 2.0

Using a spacecraft to knock an asteroid off a collision course is the best planetary defence we have. But it will take complex calculations, and plenty of time.

Deflecting asteroids

We‘ll need years of warning to deflect an asteroid
If we are to counter the threat of a rogue asteroid wreaking havoc on Earth, nations will need to come together for joint planetary defence. : Blender Cycles – Armageddon by NGCHunter2 available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/139439176@N08/30333806713/ CC BY 2.0

A large asteroid or comet on track for Earth would be a global threat. It would require national and international efforts to stop it.

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Planning Earth’s defence against cosmic objects