Last month a meteor exploded over Russia, hurling 15 meters of shattered space rock toward the city of Chelyabinsk.
The idea that a more significant and damaging Meteor could fall to earth got everybody talking, especially if that body is Neil deGrasse Tyson, who is the astrophysicist director of the Hayden Planetarium:
In a recent interview, Neil deGrasse Tyson was asked if we should feel any pressing concern regarding the probability of this event occurring:
Then Neil deGrasse Tyson was asked if the plan for saving our planet would include blowing up the meteor before it reached earth:
Neil deGrasse Tyson then said he sided with a deflection scenario:
Neil deGrasse Tyson goes on to explain it’s the gravitational pull between asteroid and space ship that can be exploited. As the asteroid is drawn toward the space ship, you can alter the space ship’s route, therefore altering the asteroid’s trajectory:
If you liked this Bossy post about space, click here to read about Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
Jenny from Mommin' It Up says
March 5, 2013 at 9:03 amOh, Bossy! Clearly you enjoy my stalkeration of you, or you wouldn’t write such funny shizzle.
Charlie says
March 5, 2013 at 9:11 amA meteor is an asteroid with a substance abuse problem. Unfortunately the substance being abused in this case is, ummmmm, us.
hokgardner says
March 5, 2013 at 9:55 amA year ago, my astrophysics-obsessed daughter sent an interview request to Dr. Tyson’s office at the AMNH. They said YES and asked when she wanted to come to his office for the interview. And since then, we’ve had one contact from his StarTalk team to say they haven’t forgotten about her. But that was in November.
I’m kind of holding a grudge against Dr. Tyson.
Little Miss Sunshine State says
March 5, 2013 at 10:18 amAsteroid stuff doesn’t keep me awake at night. Deep.
At 3am I was wondering how my cat will react to being left with my son for 5 days while I’m on vacation. Deeper.
joeinvegas says
March 5, 2013 at 11:17 amIt looks like you’re not suspending your disbelief there Bossy. Have faith in your government, congress is working on this.
dobes says
March 5, 2013 at 12:35 pmHilarious post, maybe the best ever.
Angie McCullagh says
March 5, 2013 at 8:05 pmOh, Bossy. You’re the bestest.