Topic: Near miss expected for Earth-bound asteroid

[Clive]

NASA says a newly discovered asteroid will whiz harmlessly past Earth on Thursday.

The asteroid dubbed 2010 GA6 will safely fly by the planet.

At the time of its closest pass, the 22m-wide space rock will be 359,000km away from Earth. That's about 26,000km closer than the moon.

NASA routinely tracks asteroids and comets that make close approaches to Earth. In January, another small asteroid made an even closer approach to Earth, passing within 122,000km.

[Rik]

The trouble with astronomy is that the numbers are always so large as to make it hard to get a perspective on things.

[Clive]

You won't have to duck Rik.   

[Rik]

I've just ordered some from Donald Russell.

[Simon]

Duck?  That's different.  Had it before?

[Rik]

Yes, but not from DR. We've also ordered some pheasant, which I've never tried.

[Simon]

Do they have their own pheasant pluckers?

[Rik]

I'm assured they do.

[Clive]

 

[Rodders]

NASA says a newly discovered asteroid will whiz harmlessly past Earth on Thursday.

That's also what the Dinosaurs thought.   

[Clive]

 

[Rik]

[Simon]

Should I polish my helmet?

[Rik]

It depends on how rusty it is.

[Simon]

It hasn't been out for some time.