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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.

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If an asteroid or comet were on a collision course for earth what factors would determine how dangerous the collision might be for your community?

The size, speed, location and angle of impact of the object with the Earth. A major factor would be if the impact is on water or land.


What is in asteroid called when it hits the earth?

An asteroid is space debris made up of rock and metal and can range drastically in size. When an asteroid makes a collision course for Earth, it is called a meteor. A meteor that manages to hit the Earth is called a meteorite.


Why would scientists want to know if an asteroid is on a course to collide with earth in 20 years?

If an asteroid were to hit Earth, it could do HUGE damage. It was the changes to Earth after an asteroid hit that killed off the dinosaurs. But if we knew about an asteroid heading our way long enough ahead of time, maybe we could change it's course enough to make it miss, and save millions of lives.


How is it possible for an asteroid or comet to cut directly across earths orbital path but not hit earth?

When an asteroid or comet crosses Earth's orbital path but doesn't collide with it, it's often due to the object passing through a different point in space at a different time than Earth. Additionally, the vast majority of space around Earth is empty, so the chances of a direct collision are very low. Astronomers track these objects closely to assess any potential collision risk.


Is Earth inside or outside of the asteroid belt?

From the sun it goes Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, ASTEROID belt, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto (although no longer classed as a planet). So the earth is inside the orbit of the asteroid belt.

Related Questions

Will an asteroid hit Earth in 2022?

There are currently no known asteroids on a collision course with Earth in 2022.


Is a collision possible between the earth and an asteroid?

Yes, if the asteroid is captured by the Earth's gravitational pull.


How do you avoid a collision with an asteroid headed for Earth?

There is no way to avoid an impending collision.


If an asteroid or comet were on a collision course for earth what factors would determine how dangerous the collision might be for your community?

The size, speed, location and angle of impact of the object with the Earth. A major factor would be if the impact is on water or land.


What was the name of the asteroid that had a near collision with the earth?

The Gr8 JAke


Why do asteroid fall to earth and other plantets?

They may happen to cross Earth's orbit, and just crash into it. The gravity of the planets can also help increase the likelihood of a collision.


How many years does it take an asteroid to happen?

An asteroid to happen? Asteroid cannot 'happen'. It can collide with earth, or any other object with mass, though.


What is in asteroid called when it hits the earth?

An asteroid is space debris made up of rock and metal and can range drastically in size. When an asteroid makes a collision course for Earth, it is called a meteor. A meteor that manages to hit the Earth is called a meteorite.


Asteroid headed towards U.S.?

There is one known asteroid which has some slight probability of colliding with the Earth. (There are no doubt many things on a collision course with Earth of which we are blissfully unaware.) This asteroid is called Apophis. It is a space rock which will pass close to Earth on Friday, April 13, 2029. Apophis will not hit the Earth on that pass, but the worry is that there will be some gravitational perturbation that might cause Apophis to come closer than expected on Friday, April 13, 2037. Current calculations indicate that the chance of a collision is about one chance in 40,000. There are other rocks in space that will occasionally come close. Someday, one of them will hit us. We don't know when.


What are the methods to avoid collision of asteroid of 50metres with earth?

You cannot "avoid" a collision; if the asteroid is headed this way, it will hit. They aren't steerable. Give us another 50 years or so, and perhaps we would be able to prevent it.


Is there going to be a meteor that destroys Earth?

No. While an impact from a large asteroid could cause a mass extinction event, no asteroid is large enough to destroy Earth. Collisions on the scale of the one that caused the last mass extinction occur roughly once every 100 million years. No known asteroids are on a collision course with Earth any time in the next 100 years.


Why do you think an asteroid crashed into earth?

Because it was headed towards earth. It was bound to happen.