Topic: small asteroid to pass within Earth-Moon system Tuesday

[sam]

A small asteroid will fly past Earth early Tuesday within the Earth-moon system. The asteroid, 2010 TD54, will have its closest approach to Earth's surface at an altitude of about 45,000 kilometers (27,960 miles) at 6:50 EDT a.m.

http://www.physorg.com/news206043733.html

[Clive]

That's much closer than the majority of so-called "near misses".  It's only one tenth the distance to the Moon and would have enough kinetic energy to do a lot of localised damage.   

[GillE]

It makes me wonder if we shouldn't be practising our "asteroid diversion techniques" against such a small body as a precursor to a more significant asteroid on a collision course.

[daveeb]

It makes me wonder if we shouldn't be practising our "asteroid diversion techniques" against such a small body as a precursor to a more significant asteroid on a collision course.

do we have any yet ? 

[sam]

yep, nukes.

[Clive]

 

[daveeb]

yep, nukes.

Phew, and there was me thinking we were sitting ducks