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Astronomers have spied an asteroid that may be heading for Earth (phys.org)

submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I mean if we had explosions on the surface directly away from us, would that not speed it up?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

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.