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What protects the earth from most hits by objects from space is the atmosphere. A meteoroid may hit earths atmosphere at a speed of 50 to 60,000 miles an hour, Even with how thin earth's atmosphere is at high altitudes, there is still enough atmosphere to create enough friction on the rock to heat it to incandescence (like a light bulb filament). More than enough heat is generated to burn the rock to a mote of dust before it ever hits the ground. But in your question, you asked what prevents asteroids from hitting the earth. Well, nothing - something the size of an asteroid would burn only partially on the way down, and would hit earth intact. The size becomes important here. If it's the size of a schoolbus, it will make a big crater (if it hits on land) and get lots of news coverage. That's about it. But if it's 6-8 miles in diameter, it will wreak catastrophic destruction and mayhem here on earth - even if it lands in an ocean.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoI am guessing no gravity to stay still
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What planet got hit by an asteroid?
Jupiter :P
How great are the chances that an asteroid can hit your planet?
its a fifty fifty chance we just dont know It depends on how fast the asteroid is moving and the size of the asteroid. Then you have to consider the size of the planet (diameter, etc.), and its orbital speed, etc.
Why does Saturn the planet have rings?
Billions of years ago a giant asteroid hit Saturn and got tangled up in the planet, when slowy Saturn spun around. The rings are the remain of the asteroid, ice and rock .
What happened when an asteroid hit earth?
What happened when an asteroid hit the Earth is debatable but many scientists believe that this is what may have wiped out the dinosaurs. Some people believe that the asteroid created a dust cloud that covered the planet and caused a winter that froze most life.
What is the impact of asteroid when it direct hit the planet?
There is no "impact asteroid". An asteroid impact however is when an asteroid hits a planet or moon.
What planet got hit by an asteroid?
Jupiter :P
What is the name of the asteroid that hit planet earth that set perfect orbit and rotation as we know it?
It was not an asteroid. It was a planet. The name starts with an 'M'.
How great are the chances that an asteroid can hit your planet?
its a fifty fifty chance we just dont know It depends on how fast the asteroid is moving and the size of the asteroid. Then you have to consider the size of the planet (diameter, etc.), and its orbital speed, etc.
Why does Saturn the planet have rings?
Billions of years ago a giant asteroid hit Saturn and got tangled up in the planet, when slowy Saturn spun around. The rings are the remain of the asteroid, ice and rock .
What happened when an asteroid hit earth?
What happened when an asteroid hit the Earth is debatable but many scientists believe that this is what may have wiped out the dinosaurs. Some people believe that the asteroid created a dust cloud that covered the planet and caused a winter that froze most life.
Can an asteroid be a planet?
NO.
What is the impact of asteroid when it direct hit the planet?
There is no "impact asteroid". An asteroid impact however is when an asteroid hits a planet or moon.
What does a comet or a asteroid create when they hit a planet?
An impact crater. The size depends on the mass and speed of the object and where it strikes
Was there ever a planet in the Asteroid belt?
No planet ever existed where the asteroid belt is. The mass is insufficient for a planet to have formed from all that debris.
Is Uranus an upside down planet?
Thousands of years ago, Uranus was hit by a massive asteroid.
Is the asteroid belt a gas or a solid?
the asteroid planet is solid
Where is the asteroid belt in the planet Jupiter?
The asteroid belt is not in Jupiter.
