Why do asteroids make the News?
In a time when we here on planet Earth have a lot to worry about – this month has seen not only the Norway bombing & shootings but News International uncovered as the source of a serious phone-hacking scandal, amongst a number of other troubling events including the death of soul singer Amy Winehouse – why is it that asteroids miles out in Space are reported by the News? It’s a valid question and, actually, one which has more to it than you may at first think.
See, the chance of an asteroid being close enough to hit earth is pretty ridiculous in the grand scheme of things. Although I am not a scientist and have no education to back my assumptions up, it seems to me that it’s as likely that a rock will hit earth and destroy it as it is likely that cows will don suits and start opening their own banks; in other words, it’s never going to happen. Not unless a very small chance actually becomes reality. And cows suddenly start taking more of an interest in their appearance, of course.
There again, why should we care about a rock somewhere out there, slightly closer to earth than we would like? If it isn’t going to actually hit us, then surely it’s pointless information?
Not quite, as it goes…the fact that we have recorded an asteroid this close does mean a few things, and things which we should all take very seriously. Namely that Space is a wee bit smaller than we at first thought. Or maybe that’s wrong, maybe the word is busy. Busier than we first thought. A disturbing prospect, seeing as the nearest star is a very very long way away…
One thing is certain, of course: if an asteroid of any size was to strike earth then we’d be in so much trouble, so very quickly, that there really wouldn’t be much point writing an article about it. We’d all be dissolved in a massive orange glow faster than we could register.
But actually, if that’s the way it’s going to go, then I don’t think I mind too much. There are certainly worse things to see in your final moments, surely. (Which reminds me, I must take those vinyl stickers off my wall. They’re giving me nightmares, and the drawings on them which I did as a Space-obsessed kid look worryingly like asteroids…)
if an asteroid of any size was to strike earth then we’d be in so much trouble, so very quickly, that there really wouldn’t be much point writing an article about it
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