NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON MAKES FORECAST ON POTENTIAL DATE EARTH MIGHT BE STRUCK BY ASTEROID
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson once made a dire forecast regarding the potential timing of an asteroid strike on Earth. In a 2007 interview that was unearthed, Tyson discussed the threat posed by the asteroid Apophis with Conan O'Brien.
Asteroids are rocky remnants from the solar system's formation that are sometimes referred to as "minor planets."
In response to a question concerning the three-year-old discovery of Apophis, Tyson described the potential consequences if it collides with Earth. "Should it strike and land in the centre of the predicted path, it will plunge into the Pacific Ocean, creating a chasm three miles deep and three miles wide," he declared.
"A water pulse rushes towards North America's coastline at that moment, then the water sloshes back in.
"These pulses, everyone that touches the coast, reaches those million-dollar homes in Malibu, drags them out to sea, and then rushes them back, changing their original shape.
According to Tyson, the date of impact, if it occurred, would be April 13, 2036. Nevertheless, Tyson stated in a subsequent interview that there would be a "close approach" in 2029 as well.
According to the astrophysicist, there wouldn't be a million deaths from the disaster because we would have enough time to realize that the asteroid was coming.
Tyson was referring to the asteroid Apophis, which was found on June 19, 2004, at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona by astronomers Roy Tucker, David Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi.
NASA claims that since the asteroid's discovery, researchers have been monitoring it to learn more about its trajectory.
"NASA has redirected a spacecraft to study the asteroid," they explain. "The spacecraft was sent to study Apophis during the asteroid's 2029 Earth flyby.
On April 23, 2029, OSIRIS-APEX will pass over Apophis at a distance of roughly 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometres).
After that, in June, it will reunite with Apophis to begin an 18-month mission to map the asteroid's surface and examine its chemical composition.
The asteroid will be photographed by the spacecraft during the investigation, and its movements will also be closely monitored by telescopes on Earth.
NASA goes on to say, "Apophis will appear too near the Sun in the sky in the hours following the close encounter to be observed by ground-based optical telescopes." This implies that the spacecraft will be best suited to detect any changes brought on by the close encounter with Earth.
"The width of Apophysis is roughly 1,100 feet (340 meters). On April 13, 2029, it is predicted to pass safely close to Earth, at a distance of 19,794 miles (31,860 kilometers). This will be the asteroid's closest known approach to Earth that scientists have been aware of."
NASA stated that the possibility of it striking Earth in 2029 and 2036 had been ruled out; however, following a recent "revising" of their data, it was found that a very small chance of a collision could occur if one specific event occurred. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson once made a dire forecast regarding the potential timing of an asteroid strike on Earth.
In a 2007 interview that was unearthed, Tyson discussed the threat posed by the asteroid Apophis with Conan O'Brien.
Asteroids are rocky remnants from the solar system's formation that are sometimes referred to as "minor planets."
In response to a question concerning the three-year-old discovery of Apophis, Tyson described the potential consequences in the event that it collides with Earth.
"Should it strike and land in the centre of the predicted path, it will plunge into the Pacific Ocean, creating a chasm three miles deep and three miles wide," he declared.
"A water pulse rushes towards North America's coastline at that moment, then the water sloshes back in.
"These pulses, everyone that touches the coast, reaches those million-dollar homes in Malibu, drags them out to sea, and then rushes them back, changing their original shape.
According to Tyson, the date of impact, if it occurred, would be April 13, 2036. Nevertheless, Tyson stated in a subsequent interview that there would be a "close approach" in 2029 as well.
According to the astrophysicist, there wouldn't be a million deaths from the disaster because we would have enough time to realize that the asteroid was coming.
Tyson was referring to the asteroid Apophis, which was found on June 19, 2004, at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona by astronomers Roy Tucker, David Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi.
NASA claims that since the asteroid's discovery, researchers have been monitoring it to learn more about its trajectory.
"NASA has redirected a spacecraft to study the asteroid," they explain. "The spacecraft was sent to study Apophis during the asteroid's 2029 Earth flyby.
On April 23, 2029, OSIRIS-APEX will pass over Apophis at a distance of roughly 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometres).
After that, in June, it will reunite with Apophis to begin an 18-month mission to map the asteroid's surface and examine its chemical composition.
The asteroid will be photographed by the spacecraft during the investigation, and its movements will also be closely monitored by telescopes on Earth.
NASA goes on to say, "Apophis will appear too near the Sun in the sky in the hours following the close encounter to be observed by ground-based optical telescopes." This implies that the spacecraft will be best suited to detect any changes brought on by the close encounter with Earth.
"The width of Apophysis is roughly 1,100 feet (340 meters). On April 13, 2029, it is predicted to pass safely close to Earth, at a distance of 19,794 miles (31,860 kilometers). This will be the asteroid's closest known approach to Earth that scientists have been aware of."
NASA stated that the possibility of it striking Earth in 2029 and 2036 had been ruled out; however, following a recent "revising" of their data, it was found that a very small chance of a collision could occur if one specific event occurred.