This would depend on a number of factors, including:
Potential damage that an asteroid can cause includes:
Yes. The impact of a 2.5 mile wide asteroid would likely be the worst natural disaster in human history. The airblast would be devastating even hundreds of miles away. If it hit the ocean it would cause large tsunamis.
No. And even then, something that large would not be conisdered an asteroid. Such an object would be more than 3 times the diameter of Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system.
It is FAR easier to change the direction of an asteroid than to blow it up. All that is needed to accomplish the former is to nudge the asteroid a little off its collision course with Earth, and this could be done with some small explosions on the side of that asteroid. Blowing up an asteroid would be a complete waste of energy.
It depends completely on how large the asteroid is, how far away it is, and how effectively you want it destroyed (vaporised, knocked off course or broken into manageable chunks).
Detonating a nuclear bomb on an asteroid could potentially help deflect or disrupt its path, but success would depend on factors like the size of the asteroid, the timing of the explosion, and the asteroid's composition. However, there are other less destructive methods, such as using a spacecraft to alter the asteroid's trajectory, that are currently being researched for planetary defense purposes.
Yes. The impact of a 2.5 mile wide asteroid would likely be the worst natural disaster in human history. The airblast would be devastating even hundreds of miles away. If it hit the ocean it would cause large tsunamis.
No. The moon is large enough that even a collision with the solar system's largest asteroid would not destroy it.
people would die
If it was a large asteroid that caused so much dust it blocked the meteor detectors, it would be pretty bad. There could be a huge explosion on top of a mine, causing it to crumble and fall on top of the miners.
No. And even then, something that large would not be conisdered an asteroid. Such an object would be more than 3 times the diameter of Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system.
It is FAR easier to change the direction of an asteroid than to blow it up. All that is needed to accomplish the former is to nudge the asteroid a little off its collision course with Earth, and this could be done with some small explosions on the side of that asteroid. Blowing up an asteroid would be a complete waste of energy.
If a space shuttle were to collide with an asteroid, it would likely experience significant damage or destruction. The force and speed of the impact would depend on the size and composition of the asteroid. The outcome could range from damaging the outer layers of the shuttle to completely shattering it, with potentially catastrophic consequences for the crew aboard.
if its bigger than isle of man it would do a very big impact and damage
It depends completely on how large the asteroid is, how far away it is, and how effectively you want it destroyed (vaporised, knocked off course or broken into manageable chunks).
Detonating a nuclear bomb on an asteroid could potentially help deflect or disrupt its path, but success would depend on factors like the size of the asteroid, the timing of the explosion, and the asteroid's composition. However, there are other less destructive methods, such as using a spacecraft to alter the asteroid's trajectory, that are currently being researched for planetary defense purposes.
It would depend on where it hits, and how fast it is going. It would also matter what the asteroid is made of; rock, or more metallic? It might be possible for an asteroid that big to explode harmlessly in the atmosphere, as happened over Indonesia in the fall of 2009. A 50m asteroid might do a lot of local damage, but would be unlikely to cause widespread or catastrophic damage. If it fell in the Sahara, or in the Outback of Australia, or any of the other large deserts, it might cause almost no damage at all. If it struck a heavily populated area like New England in the United States, or anywhere in Europe, or in many parts of Asia, the death toll could be in the millions. On the other hand, there are parts of Nevada in the USA where it might actually increase property values, by creating an instant tourist attraction.....
Then a human would arrive at an asteroid.