Scientists can’t be sure of astronomical impacts
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Posted: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 12:00 am
Scientists can’t be sure of astronomical impacts
According to one News-Sentinel Associated Press article of Feb. 8, by aerospace writer Marcia Dunn, NASA scientist Donald Yeomans and others were quick and sure to deny any possible chance of impact of the asteroid (2012 DAS4) with Earth — "No Earth impact is possible" Yeomans said, and he further opined, "I certainly don't anticipate any problems whatsoever."
Scientists report this asteroid will come remarkably close to Earth. They say a close, harmless encounter like this occurs about every 40 years. They also say the likelihood of something this size striking Earth is only once in every 1,200 years. Of course historical evidence is lacking, but we do have some crater evidence and pock-mark scars from past hits, and an account of a 1908 incident in Siberia when an asteroid, entering our atmosphere, exploded about five miles above ground, destroying many square miles of forest on the Tunguska River.
The News-Sentinel editorial cartoon of Feb. 7 put it all in perspective. It depicts this asteroid heading to Earth where scientists just realized their trajectory calculations are off by a decimal point, making impact in seconds.
It's written that sometime in Earth's future a "great burning mountain" or a "great burning star" or a "stone like a great millstone" will fall into the earth and sea, resulting in tremendous death and devastation. Scripture even accounts its name as Wormwood or bitter waters ("Chernobyl" in Russia).
Even with our sophisticated technologies and breakthroughs in scientific knowledge like the Hubble Telescope and our shared national space station, our knowledge and understanding is extremely limited and makes our forecasts and predictions speculative at best.
Scripture declares that the heavens proclaim the glory of God. These "close call encounters" should be seen as the portents they are, and encourage us to come to an understanding of the Divine will and plan.
William Van Amber Fields
Morada
Posted in
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Tuesday, February 19, 2013 12:00 am.
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Kevin Paglia posted at 4:54 pm on Tue, Feb 19, 2013.
Hate to be a downer here but the scientific community agrees with WVAF. At least in regards to the Earth WILL be struck by a extinction level asteroid. This is basic science. The universe is a dangerous place with lots of things that are out to get us.
Where the seperation happens between WVAF and reality is what is the cause. Basic astrophysics says that what ever is going to wipe the Earth clean is ALREADY on the way, has been for millions of years most likely. May still be millions of years away. The human existance on Earth is limited.
But it is not the Earth altering asteroid we have to worry about. It is the 2000lbs car driven by the distracted driver. It is a tiny defect in our brain or heart, or our (collective "you") diet that is slowly killing us. Every day people experience the same result as WVAF's killer asteroid, they die and discover what comes next.
Joanne Bobin posted at 4:30 pm on Tue, Feb 19, 2013.
Exactly, Mr. Walters. For those, like WVAF who believe in a vengeful God, these "prophesies," which are most likely based on actual historical activities of the Earth, i.e., volcanos, earthquakes, meteor strikes, etc., are nothing more than "threats" fabricated to keep ignorant human beings in line by foreshadowing God's vengeance.
For those who believe in a benign or loving God, these are simply the result of nature and are easily explained today by science, rather than the prophesies of false "holy men," to scare the daylights out of the gullible masses.
Ed Walters posted at 3:03 pm on Tue, Feb 19, 2013.
Sorry Joanne I can`t agree with you, this article belongs in the fable section. Due to the earths atmosphere most asteroids and meteors are burned up in the earths atmosphere. Every once in a great while one just might make it through, per the one in Russia last month. However approximity 5 miles above the earths surface, due to the heat build up in the asteriod it exploded as did the one in 1908. Mr. Van Amber Fields makes the claim that someday, date not mentioned the earth will again encompass doom. Due to a devine plan, something on the order that killed the dinosaurs will render the earth void of any living creature. If this happens I believe it will be caused my something science will see coming, but man will have little or no control of to stop. Maybe tomorrow, most likely not since science can track space rocks from earths telescopes and project their trajectory as they did with 2012 DAS4 which was projected to miss the earth by 17,000 miles, and did. Anything that hits and destroys the earth would be difficult for me to believe that it is part of a devine plan, to make the planet look like the moon and void of life, there must be a devine reason. Perhaps Mr. Van Amber Fields could share as to why the earth would be destroyed. Man is doing a wonderful job without any outside help.
Joanne Bobin posted at 12:40 pm on Tue, Feb 19, 2013.
This belongs in the religion section - regardless of WVAF's reference to an actual news article.