Wednesday, September 29, 2004
TOUTATIS HAS NO LINKS TO AL-QAEDA
Science Desk
"It won't hit us," said Astronomy Professor Kevin Lutz, as he loaded his van with cases of water and a variety of non-perishable food items. "I mean, 960,000 miles is pretty close but it shouldn't be a problem."
Toutatis, shaped like a dumbell or a gigantic Milkbone, is the size of Passaic, New Jersey but is more hospitable.
Donald Trump has announced that the next Apprentice winner will have the job of overseeing construction of a golf complex on one of the "bell" portions of Toutatis. "Right now," said Mr. Trump, "Toutatis is a giant rock, with no redeeming features. But after my team, led by the winner of this next round of Apprentice, is done with their work, it will be home to one of the most spectacular getaways ever created. Image: golf in outerspace, with no trees to interfere with your shots - just the stillness and breath-taking, awe-inspiring beauty of the cosmos."
Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge advises people to remain calm and go about their daily activities. "We cannot establish any links at this time between Toutatis and Al-Qaeda or Saddam Hussein," said Secretary Ridge. "But our investigation is ongoing."
Secretary Ridge and the Department of Homeland Security did issue advice to those who might be in danger if Toutatis were to hit: "If you are within a mile of the impact, stay in your homes, preferably under a doorway or some other reinforced portion of your home. School children will be told to hide under their desk or to 'stop, drop and roll'. "
Because they deal with such enormous distances and sizes, most astronomers say the estimated distance (960,000 miles) has a margin of error of 1,300,000 miles.
|
Science Desk
Asteroid Toutatis Makes Closest Pass in 651 Years
Mon Sep 27, 3:13 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An asteroid named for a Celtic god of war will come as close to Earth this week as it has since 1353.
The space rock known as Toutatis will come on Wednesday within 960,000 miles of Earth, relatively close by cosmic standards, Astronomy Magazine said in an e-mailed statement on Monday.
Toutatis poses no danger to Earth. However, if it did hit our planet, it would create a blast with the energy equivalent to 1 million ton of TNT.
"It won't hit us," said Astronomy Professor Kevin Lutz, as he loaded his van with cases of water and a variety of non-perishable food items. "I mean, 960,000 miles is pretty close but it shouldn't be a problem."
Toutatis, shaped like a dumbell or a gigantic Milkbone, is the size of Passaic, New Jersey but is more hospitable.
Donald Trump has announced that the next Apprentice winner will have the job of overseeing construction of a golf complex on one of the "bell" portions of Toutatis. "Right now," said Mr. Trump, "Toutatis is a giant rock, with no redeeming features. But after my team, led by the winner of this next round of Apprentice, is done with their work, it will be home to one of the most spectacular getaways ever created. Image: golf in outerspace, with no trees to interfere with your shots - just the stillness and breath-taking, awe-inspiring beauty of the cosmos."
Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge advises people to remain calm and go about their daily activities. "We cannot establish any links at this time between Toutatis and Al-Qaeda or Saddam Hussein," said Secretary Ridge. "But our investigation is ongoing."
Secretary Ridge and the Department of Homeland Security did issue advice to those who might be in danger if Toutatis were to hit: "If you are within a mile of the impact, stay in your homes, preferably under a doorway or some other reinforced portion of your home. School children will be told to hide under their desk or to 'stop, drop and roll'. "
Because they deal with such enormous distances and sizes, most astronomers say the estimated distance (960,000 miles) has a margin of error of 1,300,000 miles.
