this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2025
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Space & Astronomy
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1 in 77 chance, December 2032.
Is there anything we can do to increase that chance, and make it happen sooner?
In April 2029 Apophis will also make a swing-by. No collision predicted, but still. Something could knock it slightly off course if we're lucky.
Alright everyone, when I say "lean," lean.
If we had the ability to direct it away, we could also improve the odds of hitting. Can't make it get here faster though, either way.
I mean if we had explosions on the surface directly away from us, would that not speed it up?
Sure. By a few minutes maybe. I won't get into the logistics of trying to set off a controlled directional explosion on a huge rock that's likely rotating. Keep in mind also that getting it here even a minute faster means it has to change its orbit, because Earth won't be in the original impact zone yet.
Right? Hurry up already.