On 08 Aug 2007, at 06:54, Julie Chorley wrote:
So this is in defense of that one that they know is planning on being troublesome in what was it, 2060 or something?
How about one that doesn't make any trial runs and just decides to make the Earth its new home?
Julie
I think you might be referring to 99942 Apophis (2004 MN4). It's set to make a very close pass (closer than our geosynchronous satellites and close enough that Europeans will be able to see it naked eye) on 13 April 2029. Earth's gravity will then adjust Apophis's orbit such that it will return for another very close pass (with a very small possibility of impact) on 13 April 2036. A few asides. Sufferers of paraskavedekatriaphobia (fear of Friday the 13th) will want to know that both of those 13 April dates (2029 and 2036) will be Fridays. While working with one of Apophis's discoverers (Roy Tucker) earlier this year to get an asteroid named for Bryce Canyon I asked him about his team choosing "Apophis" for the name. Turns out they are fans of Stargate SG-1. pw