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Re: Coincidence of meteor strike and close asteroid approach at same time.
Posted:
Feb 23, 2013 6:09 PM
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On Feb 23, 3:27 pm, Robert Clark <rgregorycl...@yahoo.com> wrote: > ..
> The 2029 close approach of the near Earth asteroid Apophis means this > is a question that needs to be determined definitively. It also like > 2012 DA14 is expected to come so close as to get inside the ring of > geosynchronous satellites, but not impact. Apophis is so large though > that, unlike 2012 DA14 , on closest approach it will even be visible > to the naked eye. If it is the case that it can be accompanied by > fragments that do impact then that is potentially very serious because > its larger size means it would likely be accompanied by larger > fragments. > To answer this question a statistical study needs to be made both of > the Air Force infrasound detectors and the space radar detections to > find whether on the 2012 DA14 close approach or on other previous > close approaches whether there was an increase in meteor hits. >
Meteor expert Clark Chapman and former astronaut Rusty Schweickart urge U.S. military to re-initiate sharing of satellite detections of meteor impacts:
Russian Meteor Fallout: Military Satellite Data Should Be Shared. by Leonard David, SPACE.com?s Space Insider Columnist Date: 18 February 2013 Time: 09:03 AM ET http://www.space.com/19846-russian-meteor-fallout-military-satellites.html
From links in the article, the military formerly did share this information but the policy was changed in 2009. This is important because the satellites reportedly have the capability to detect meteors down to 1 meter wide and below. This would well have the capability to determine if close asteroid flybys result in increased meteor impacts.
Bob Clark
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