Comments on: What Are the Chances That Earth Will Collide With Mars, Mercury, or Venus? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/ 80beats is DISCOVER's news aggregator, weaving together the choicest tidbits from the best articles covering the day\'s most compelling topics. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:18:05 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: NATB100 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/comment-page-1/#comment-58694 NATB100 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:49:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/#comment-58694 Well i think we should panic in the next few million years... or when you see the planet about to hit but until then i think we are safe (i hope, i am planning on passing away when i am about 139) Well i think we should panic in the next few million years… or when you see the planet about to hit but until then i think we are safe (i hope, i am planning on passing away when i am about 139)

]]> By: sp http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/comment-page-1/#comment-44102 sp Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:39:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/#comment-44102 #10 that statement was quite interesting #10 that statement was quite interesting

]]> By: Mitch http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/comment-page-1/#comment-39051 Mitch Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:04:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/#comment-39051 #10 WTF? everything after amazing was kinda stupid. #10 WTF?

everything after amazing was kinda stupid.

]]> By: Gary http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/comment-page-1/#comment-33620 Gary Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:59:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/#comment-33620 I would love to see that from the safety of a ship lol. With cameras on the planets surface and sky to watch in super highdef. Amazing. I wonder why do we exist in a universe and believe in man made gods? If your religious you need to address that seriously, I mean there has to be life out there. Soo did jesus die for their sins to? Are martians gonna burn or just be really compressed under mars surface? Another question. Is science from satan? Things like the theory of evolution or the theory or germs? Or the theory of gravity? Or computer science? I guess. Gotta limit that info. I would love to see that from the safety of a ship lol.

With cameras on the planets surface and sky to watch in super highdef.

Amazing.

I wonder why do we exist in a universe and believe in man made gods?
If your religious you need to address that seriously, I mean there has to be life out there.
Soo did jesus die for their sins to? Are martians gonna burn or just be really compressed under mars surface?

Another question.
Is science from satan? Things like the theory of evolution or the theory or germs?
Or the theory of gravity?

Or computer science?

I guess. Gotta limit that info.

]]> By: chris http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/comment-page-1/#comment-33555 chris Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:54:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/#comment-33555 Ooh I want to know if the earth is destroyed or if a saavy species plucks the artifact world from doom. Ooh I want to know if the earth is destroyed or if a saavy species plucks the artifact world from doom.

]]> By: DS http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/comment-page-1/#comment-33385 DS Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:42:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/#comment-33385 Brian, I think the point is that there have always been these tiny fluctuations in orbits due to gravitational effects etc. Up until now however, they have been unnoticed because they are so tiny. But over time they will gradually accumulate as orbits become more and more irregular and eventually overlap. Brian, I think the point is that there have always been these tiny fluctuations in orbits due to gravitational effects etc. Up until now however, they have been unnoticed because they are so tiny. But over time they will gradually accumulate as orbits become more and more irregular and eventually overlap.

]]> By: Brian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/comment-page-1/#comment-33085 Brian Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:47:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/#comment-33085 I see a flaw. The orbits of Earth and all the planets mentioned have already been stable for 5 billion years. Why would they destabilize now? Are the researchers claiming new orbital mechanics suddenly arrive on the scene? Seems pretty unlikely. On the other hand, if it's been the case that throughout the solar system's history, the conditions causing "...these fluctuations can [to] grow until after several million years..." then I'd say that use case has been thoroughly tested out already. I'll bet they either have a measurement error, a logic flaw, or they're talking about a threat that's so unlikely as to be insignificant. I'd be more concerned about a nearby supernova, gamma ray burst, or hostile aliens arriving. Heck, an asteroid impact is worth worrying over. We know the sun will die in 5 large ones. In short I'll lose no sleep over this one. I see a flaw. The orbits of Earth and all the planets mentioned have already been stable for 5 billion years. Why would they destabilize now? Are the researchers claiming new orbital mechanics suddenly arrive on the scene? Seems pretty unlikely.

On the other hand, if it’s been the case that throughout the solar system’s history, the conditions causing “…these fluctuations can [to] grow until after several million years…” then I’d say that use case has been thoroughly tested out already.

I’ll bet they either have a measurement error, a logic flaw, or they’re talking about a threat that’s so unlikely as to be insignificant. I’d be more concerned about a nearby supernova, gamma ray burst, or hostile aliens arriving. Heck, an asteroid impact is worth worrying over. We know the sun will die in 5 large ones.

In short I’ll lose no sleep over this one.

]]> By: Clark http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/comment-page-1/#comment-32607 Clark Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:49:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/#comment-32607 I think it's safe to say it's time to panic. I think it’s safe to say it’s time to panic.

]]> By: YouRang http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/comment-page-1/#comment-32582 YouRang Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:41:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/#comment-32582 The second episode of the current Dr. Who has the doctor showing Rose the end of the earth. The weird part was that surely someone would have implemented my plan by then. A fleet of about 1000 space stations orbiting between earth and Jupiter could transfer energy/angular momentum from Jupiter's orbit to earth's over a scant billion years. (Of course we'd need another set of about 200 to move Mars out of the way.) The second episode of the current Dr. Who has the doctor showing Rose the end of the earth. The weird part was that surely someone would have implemented my plan by then. A fleet of about 1000 space stations orbiting between earth and Jupiter could transfer energy/angular momentum from Jupiter’s orbit to earth’s over a scant billion years. (Of course we’d need another set of about 200 to move Mars out of the way.)

]]> By: Jumblepudding http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/comment-page-1/#comment-32578 Jumblepudding Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:48:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/#comment-32578 If humanity has survived, it will be in a vastly different form, and will probably have moved away from the planet by the time something like this happens. I'd imagine our descendants at that point would be more different from us than we are from tunicates, possibly having shed consciousness as we know it as a vestigial encumberance. I think I just gave myself an aneurysm because my small imagination overheated. If humanity has survived, it will be in a vastly different form, and will probably have moved away from the planet by the time something like this happens. I’d imagine our descendants at that point would be more different from us than we are from tunicates, possibly having shed consciousness as we know it as a vestigial encumberance. I think I just gave myself an aneurysm because my small imagination overheated.

]]> By: Nick http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/comment-page-1/#comment-32546 Nick Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:53:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/#comment-32546 Well, if we are here we damn sure won't be human. Though, I predict that if our society lasts that long, the earth will be consumed by it far before we have to worry about hitting the other planets (which will probably be mined out well before ol' earth is digested). Well, if we are here we damn sure won’t be human.

Though, I predict that if our society lasts that long, the earth will be consumed by it far before we have to worry about hitting the other planets (which will probably be mined out well before ol’ earth is digested).

]]> By: The Doctor http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/comment-page-1/#comment-32535 The Doctor Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:44:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/#comment-32535 Might have to take the Tardis to see this. Might have to take the Tardis to see this.

]]> By: Patimus http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/comment-page-1/#comment-32518 Patimus Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:07:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/10/what-are-the-chances-that-earth-will-collide-with-mars-mercury-or-venus/#comment-32518 I'd venture to say, we probably shouldn't worry about it. I'll be 3,000,000,027, so a cataclysm will be a welcome change from the nursing home. I’d venture to say, we probably shouldn’t worry about it. I’ll be 3,000,000,027, so a cataclysm will be a welcome change from the nursing home.

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