German Schoolboy Corrects NASA's Figures

[Ron61]

German schoolboy, 13, corrects NASA's asteroid figures: paper Tue Apr 15, 5:44 PM ET


BERLIN (AFP) - A 13-year-old German schoolboy corrected NASA's estimates on the chances of an asteroid colliding with Earth, a German newspaper reported Tuesday, after spotting the boffins had miscalculated.

Nico Marquardt used telescopic findings from the Institute of Astrophysics in Potsdam (AIP) to calculate that there was a 1 in 450 chance that the Apophis asteroid will collide with Earth, the Potsdamer Neuerster Nachrichten reported.

NASA had previously estimated the chances at only 1 in 45,000 but told its sister organisation, the European Space Agency (ESA), that the young whizzkid had got it right.

The schoolboy took into consideration the risk of Apophis running into one or more of the 40,000 satellites orbiting Earth during its path close to the planet on April 13 2029.

Those satellites travel at 3.07 kilometres a second (1.9 miles), at up to 35,880 kilometres above earth -- and the Apophis asteroid will pass by earth at a distance of 32,500 kilometres.

If the asteroid strikes a satellite in 2029, that will change its trajectory making it hit earth on its next orbit in 2036.

Both NASA and Marquardt agree that if the asteroid does collide with earth, it will create a ball of iron and iridium 320 metres (1049 feet) wide and weighing 200 billion tonnes, which will crash into the Atlantic Ocean.

The shockwaves from that would create huge tsunami waves, destroying both coastlines and inland areas, whilst creating a thick cloud of dust that would darken the skies indefinitely.

The 13-year old made his discovery as part of a regional science competition for which he submitted a project entitled: "Apophis -- The Killer Astroid."

Ron

[Joe Wicked]

But the world is supposed to end in 2012, so it is not relevant right?

[Ron61]

Joe,

You have a good point. I keep seeing all of that stuff about 2012 but never any specifics. I even saw on the History Channel where they have found some old text is one of the Mayan (spelling) temples and it refers to 2012as the ending, but they aren't sure what it means.

Ron

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by Ron61

Joe,

You have a good point. I keep seeing all of that stuff about 2012 but never any specifics. I even saw on the History Channel where they have found some old text is one of the Mayan (spelling) temples and it refers to 2012as the ending, but they aren't sure what it means.

Ron

I haven't seen that one. The only thing I saw was that the Mayans had it as the end of an age/era. I forget what they called them but every 20 years the current era changes into the next era. The significance of the 2012 is when the solar system passes through the center plane of the milky way galaxy as we view it. This marks the end of an age, when the gods pass judgment. If mankind has "earned the right" (my own terms) to live then civilization would not be wiped out. If not then the gods would pass judgment and wipe out mankind and start over. That is what I remember at least.

Edit: the thing people fail to make a point of in this is it is supposed to be the Mayan gods passing the judgment. This means that if you are buying into the Mayan calendar marking the end of times then you are buying into the Mayan gods as the true gods. The Mayan Calendar (as with all aspects of Mayan culture) are based on the Mayan religious belief system (which includes the stars and cosmos). The Mayan calendar dates when the Mayan gods will pass judgment. If you do not believe that the Mayan gods wield any power, then the calendar has no significance.

But then again I have run afoul using common sense again.

[Ron61]

Joe,

I have seen other references on the History Channel shows to the year 2012 they have found in other parts of the world. As you have probably guessed, I love history and watch all I can. I also love to visit historical sites. I think I will bury a time capsul with me in it so I can come back after that year and see what happened.

Ron

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by Ron61

Joe,

I have seen other references on the History Channel shows to the year 2012 they have found in other parts of the world. As you have probably guessed, I love history and watch all I can. I also love to visit historical sites. I think I will bury a time capsul with me in it so I can come back after that year and see what happened.

Ron

I to watch a lot of history channel and love historical sites and stuff. I vaguely remember something about a show with other references to 2012, but it all seemed stretched to me and made to fit. Maybe I missed the point, but it seemed to be that they were trying to make anything that was even remotely close to 2012 fit. If it was the show that talked about certain planets being aligned, it was off, that is supposed to happen in 2011 I believe, and something else that was supposed to happen in 2012 is actually going to happen in 2015. To me that is not proof, or even a coincidence. It is nothing. Completely unrelated and just an attempt to create more evidence for ratings purposes.

But then again, I am a self proclaimed ID ten T.

[Ron61]

I have to agree with you there, especially after watching a show the other night that offered scientific proof that UFOs can't exist. I sometimes wonder how some people can get the title scientist.

Ron

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by Ron61

I have to agree with you there, especially after watching a show the other night that offered scientific proof that UFOs can't exist. I sometimes wonder how some people can get the title scientist.

Ron

LOL, Unidentified Flying Object. Anything flying that is not identifiable to you is a UFO. Once you can identify it it is no longer a UFO.
Ron, just reference my signature. It explains much.

[Ron61]

Joe,

I have read your signature many times and thought it is really appropriate for many things. Especially in these times.

Ron

[meat]

Originally Posted by Ron61

I keep seeing all of that stuff about 2012 but never any specifics. I even saw on the History Channel where they have found some old text is one of the Mayan (spelling) temples and it refers to 2012as the ending, but they aren't sure what it means.

Maybe it just means that they guy who did Mayan calendars retired, and that was the last date he carved.

Your pal,
Meat.

[GlynMeek]

Originally Posted by Joe Wicked

Edit: the thing people fail to make a point of in this is it is supposed to be the Mayan gods passing the judgment. This means that if you are buying into the Mayan calendar marking the end of times then you are buying into the Mayan gods as the true gods. The Mayan Calendar (as with all aspects of Mayan culture) are based on the Mayan religious belief system (which includes the stars and cosmos). The Mayan calendar dates when the Mayan gods will pass judgment. If you do not believe that the Mayan gods wield any power, then the calendar has no significance.

True to a certain extent, but all societies create 'gods' to a) explain stuff that they can perhaps 'measure', but cannot explain scientifically and b) assuage their fears of death.

ALL religions, including (ESPECIALLY?) the big 3 current ones, originating in the Middle East, (Islam, Judaism and Christianity) are basically the same in the premise that "my invisible friend is more powerful than your invisible friend".

NO gods wield any power (not just the Mayan ones), because there are no gods of any kind, and the sooner we all start to accept that, the fewer, unnecessary Jihads or Spanish Inquisitions or Crusades will be undertaken on behalf of one "invisible friend" or another...but I digress...

The Mayans were extremely advanced in their measurement of planetary phenomena and the cyclical nature of the universe, but they were unable to EXPLAIN a lot of these issues, so they consequently laid a lot of the blame/explanation around their "invisible friends". Their calendar is just one of many historically based 'documents' that are pointing to 2012 as a significant 'change date' for Earth history. One predicts the 'end' of the Catholic Church, one predicts the next shift in the Earth's magnetic poles (quite possible given the DRAMATIC changes in the earth's magnetic field over the last 20 years or so), one predicts the Hubbert Peak for oil to occur in 2012 etc. etc, but they all predict NOT "the ending of the world", but a "significant change in the Earth"...whatever that means.

If you DO believe in "an invisible friend", then one can base the explanation on that, but if you study physics, geology, sociology and astronomy then there are some very interesting, multiple physical and social phenomona that seem to be coming to some kind of climax at around the same time...who knows?

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

Glyn

[Ron61]

Glyn,

The Mayans were extremely advanced in their measurement of planetary phenomena and the cyclical nature of the universe.

This seems to be true for several very old civilizations. In fact based on some of the things they are now finding, I sometimes wonder if we are the remains of the real intelligent civilizations that once inhabited this planet and they have long since departed to other planets. Just look at all of the things we now have that are basically just improved versions of things they had long ago. The Egyptians were very advanced. And look at what the Greeks gave us.

Ron

[Joe Wicked]

Glyn, I agree with you, I just chose to not go into that kind of detail. Usually when I do, I piss people off with the way I say it, so I keep it to myself. I believe religious change prophecies are self fulfilling to a point. The masses believe the change is happening so they cause it to happen. As far as the earth physical changes, then that is physics and can be explained, and dealt with as needed.

As far as the Mayans, that is what I was trying to say. That the current age was ending and a new (different/changed) age was starting at that time.

[GlynMeek]

oooh, Joe...please understand I didn't think you were necessarily disagreeing, it's just that I find the perspectives on the '2012 issues' to be quite fascinating and so when I get started on a diatribe, I will often poke as many holes in 'sacred cows' as I can, and "damn the torpedoes"...LOL. Your point about self-fulfilling religious prophecies is well stated!

Be safe, be well

Glyn

[wtm442]

2012 will be the end of the Mayan calendar, but even more frightning is that is the year the aliens will invade the earth and distroy all humans, according to the X-Files.

[Ron61]

Ah, Warren has awakened. Warren did you receive my e-mail?

Ron

[DAVID GAGNARD]

But the world is supposed to end in 2012, so it is not relevant right?

So, that means we have about 4 years to enjoy life and drive our cars?????????
Well, there goes my daughters inheritance!!!!! Looks like I'm going to enjoy the hell out of the next four years!!!!!!!!!!!!

David

[Ron61]

David,

And you can even burn all the gas you want as it should last that long.

Ron

[GlynMeek]

but ONLY until then...remember 2012 = Hubbert Peak for oil!

[Ron61]

Maybe if he drives fast he can coast past that date.

Ron