Will this Asteroid DESTROY Earth in 2038? | Dhruv Rathee

Summary

This video script debunks sensationalist claims about asteroid collisions, focusing on the reality of Earth's asteroid threat. It explains the difference between asteroids, comets, meteors, and meteorites, and clarifies that no imminent large-scale asteroid collision is expected in the next 100 years. The script details NASA's planetary defense strategies, including kinetic impacts and the Near Earth Object Surveyor's upcoming launch, assuring viewers that Earth is well-prepared to handle potential asteroid threats.

Takeaways

• 🌌 The asteroid Apophis, over 1000 feet in diameter, will pass by Earth in 2029 at a close proximity, but it poses no threat of collision with 0% chance.
• 💥 The hypothetical scenario of an asteroid collision in 2038 with a 72% chance is a part of a NASA exercise to assess Earth's preparedness, not a real prediction.
• 📚 Asteroids are known as 'Planetoids' and vary greatly in size, with the smallest being 2 meters wide and the largest, Ceres, at 940 kilometers in diameter.
• 📍 Most asteroids in our solar system are found in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter, with an average distance of over 1 million kilometers between any two asteroids.
• 👀 Near Earth Objects (NEOs) include not only asteroids but also comets, meteors, meteorites, and meteoroids, each with distinct compositions and behaviors.
• 🔭 Comets are considered more dangerous than asteroids due to their higher speed and shorter warning time before potential impacts.
• 🚀 NASA and other space agencies have detection systems in place, such as LINEAR, CSS, PAN STARRS, and ATLAS, to identify and track NEOs.
• 🛡 Earth's defense against asteroid impacts includes kinetic impactors, slow push/pull methods, and as a last resort, nuclear methods, though the latter has significant drawbacks.
• 🔬 Data science plays a crucial role in predicting asteroid paths and is a valuable tool in various fields, including space exploration.
• 🚀 NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) successfully demonstrated the kinetic impact method by changing the orbit of a non-threatening asteroid.
• 🔮 Future advancements in detection systems, such as the Near Earth Object Surveyor telescope planned for 2028, will further improve our ability to identify and mitigate asteroid threats.

Q & A

What is the significance of the date 13th April, 2029, in relation to asteroid Apophis?

On 13th April, 2029, the asteroid Apophis, which is more than 1000 feet in diameter, will pass by Earth at an extremely close proximity of only 30,000 km, which is closer than many geostationary satellites. However, it has a 0% chance of colliding with Earth.

What is the difference between asteroids, comets, meteors, meteorites, and meteoroids?

Asteroids are made of rocks and metals and are found in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. Comets are made of ice, rocks, and dust and are found in the Kuiper Belt. Meteoroids are small pieces of asteroids or comets. When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, it is called a Meteor, which can create a Meteor Shower. If a meteor survives its passage through the atmosphere and lands on Earth, it is called a Meteorite.

Why are comets considered more dangerous than asteroids in terms of potential Earth impact?

Comets are considered more dangerous because they travel at twice the speed of asteroids, and the warning time for a potential impact is shorter. Comets can suddenly appear and collide with Earth without much advance notice.

What is the role of the Near Earth Object Surveyor that NASA plans to launch in 2028?

The Near Earth Object Surveyor is a space telescope planned by NASA to be stationed outside Earth. Its role is to detect asteroids and other near-Earth objects, thereby improving our detection systems for potential threats.

What is the Kinetic Method for dealing with a potential asteroid impact, and has it been tested?

The Kinetic Method involves sending a spacecraft to collide with an asteroid, thereby changing its orbit. This method has been successfully tested in NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) in 2022, where a spacecraft was launched to collide with a non-threatening asteroid to confirm that the method effectively changes the asteroid's orbit.

What is the Slow Push and Pull method for altering an asteroid's orbit, and what are the concerns associated with it?

The Slow Push and Pull method involves gradually changing an asteroid's orbit using solar energy. A spacecraft near the asteroid could concentrate the sun's rays on it, vaporizing part of the asteroid and releasing gas for a small thrust that would slowly change the asteroid's orbit. The concern is that the rocks on the asteroid should not interfere with the spacecraft's optical system before being vaporized.

What are the legal and geopolitical issues associated with using the Nuclear Method to deal with an asteroid threat?

The Nuclear Method, which involves sending a spacecraft carrying nuclear bombs to destroy an asteroid, can lead to legal, international, and geopolitical problems. Additionally, the destruction of the asteroid could result in its pieces being blown up and potentially colliding with Earth, making it a risky option.

What is the role of the LINEAR project in detecting near-Earth objects?

The Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) project, a collaboration between the US Air Force, NASA, and MIT, uses two 1-metre long telescopes and a 0.5-metre telescope to discover more than 10,000 objects every year. It is responsible for detecting 65% of all discovered asteroids.

What was the Chelyabinsk meteor event, and how did it demonstrate the limitations of asteroid detection systems?

The Chelyabinsk meteor event occurred in 2013 in Russia, where a 20-metre wide meteor exploded above the city, causing damage and injuries. The meteor was not detected by any system in time, highlighting the limitations of asteroid detection systems and the need for improvement.

What is the significance of the European Space Agency's Risk List, and what does it contain?

The European Space Agency's Risk List is a compilation of the most dangerous asteroids and comets that could potentially collide with Earth in the near future. It includes details such as the impact date and time, the probability of collision, and the diameter of the objects to indicate their size.

What are the three strategies mentioned in the script for dealing with a large asteroid collision, and which one has been successfully tested?

The three strategies for dealing with a large asteroid collision are Kinetic methods, Slow Push and Pull methods, and Nuclear methods. The Kinetic Method has been successfully tested and involves sending a spacecraft to collide with the asteroid to change its orbit.