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Astronomers discover 3I/ATLAS – Third interstellar object to visit Solar System

(www.abc.net.au)
306 points gammarator | 5 comments | 03 Jul 25 03:19 UTC | HN request time: 0.222s | source

Minor Planet Electronic Circular: https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K25/K25N12.html
1. artur_makly ◴[03 Jul 25 13:14 UTC] No.44454716[source]▶
If it were to come right for us, what do we have today to stop it (if at all) ?
replies(2): >>44455520 #>>44457593 #
2. atrus ◴[03 Jul 25 14:37 UTC] No.44455520[source]▶
If we're just talking about interstellar objects, and assuming a decent lead time (not oh hey it's going to hit in 3 days), it's probably easier to prevent it from hitting us since it's most likely just passing through. You'd only need to give it a small enough nudge to have it miss a smidge. That's something we're more than capable now of doing, and have done.
replies(2): >>44458052 #>>44470352 #
3. russdill ◴[03 Jul 25 17:57 UTC] No.44457593[source]▶
If this object were coming straight for Earth there would be pretty much nothing we could do to avoid a collision. Luckily the chances of such a collision are enormously small. We are fortunately bringing more resources on line to find such objects sooner.
4. coolspot ◴[03 Jul 25 18:46 UTC] No.44458052[source]▶
> That's something we're more than capable now of doing, and have done.

You’re very optimistic about our ability to divert 22km-diameter object moving at 70km/s .

DART smashed 680kg payload into a 780m-diameter Didymos changing its orbit.

5. gora_mohanty ◴[05 Jul 25 05:47 UTC] No.44470352[source]▶
We would need to detect it in time, have an interceptor fast enough to rendezvous with it, and also with enough payload to nudge it off course. Seems quite difficult with current technology