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	<title>Comments on: 2007 TU24 miss distance update</title>
	<atom:link href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/</link>
	<description>I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog.</description>
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		<title>By: Nigel Depledge</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/comment-page-4/#comment-65744</link>
		<dc:creator>Nigel Depledge</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:16:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/#comment-65744</guid>
		<description>Safetyfactorman said:
&quot;1. To Devolving squid, if what you said about the frequency of near misses is correct, then you are without any credibility whatsoever. There have been at least 5 near misses of asteroids with earth within the last 2 months or so.

...

So, within a 2-month timespan we’ve have 5 asteroids that will have been dangerously close to the Earth. No wonder NASA wanted to keep mum with TU24 and say there’s no danger.&quot;

OK, first off, you make no mention of how large these are compared to 2007 TU24.  As Evolving Squid and the BA both pointed out, &lt;i&gt;on average&lt;/i&gt; an object the size of TU24 will pass close by the Earth once every 5 years.

Second, you ignore the concept of averages.

Finally, you call these recent near passes &quot;dangerous&quot;, but you present no evidence that they had any effect whatsoever.  In fact, most people will have been completely ignorant of their presence.  Since they passed relatively close, and had &lt;i&gt;no effect whatsoever&lt;/i&gt;, what is the danger from them?

It is true that they could have been dangerous, had they impacted, but they did not.  Therefore, no danger.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Safetyfactorman said:<br />
&#8220;1. To Devolving squid, if what you said about the frequency of near misses is correct, then you are without any credibility whatsoever. There have been at least 5 near misses of asteroids with earth within the last 2 months or so.</p>
<p>&#8230;</p>
<p>So, within a 2-month timespan we’ve have 5 asteroids that will have been dangerously close to the Earth. No wonder NASA wanted to keep mum with TU24 and say there’s no danger.&#8221;</p>
<p>OK, first off, you make no mention of how large these are compared to 2007 TU24.  As Evolving Squid and the BA both pointed out, <i>on average</i> an object the size of TU24 will pass close by the Earth once every 5 years.</p>
<p>Second, you ignore the concept of averages.</p>
<p>Finally, you call these recent near passes &#8220;dangerous&#8221;, but you present no evidence that they had any effect whatsoever.  In fact, most people will have been completely ignorant of their presence.  Since they passed relatively close, and had <i>no effect whatsoever</i>, what is the danger from them?</p>
<p>It is true that they could have been dangerous, had they impacted, but they did not.  Therefore, no danger.</p>
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		<title>By: Barton Paul Levenson</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/comment-page-4/#comment-65743</link>
		<dc:creator>Barton Paul Levenson</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:08:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/#comment-65743</guid>
		<description>safetyfactorman, in his usual charming manner, writes:

[[&lt;i&gt;Albert Einstein stated that geographical pole shifts had occurred many times in the past. Why hasn’t anyone here addressed Big Al’s comments? Because you are MORONS???? Einstein supported both Hapgood and Velikovsky. The electric universe boys also support Velikovsky. Where is mainstream cosmology in addressing electric universe????? Duhhhhhh!!!!! Duhhhhhh! DOGMA. DOGMA. Duhhhhhh! Duhhhhh!&lt;/i&gt;]]

You are misrepresenting Einstein.  He and Velikovsky were friends, and were often photographed together.  But Einstein, while polite about it, did NOT buy Velikovsky&#039;s theory.  Nor does anyone who knows a bit about astronomy.  And I couldn&#039;t care less what the &quot;electric universe boys&quot; support, since they are also crackpots.  The electric universe theory (stars are cathodes?) is contradicted by so much direct observation that you would have to be completely ignorant of modern astronomy to buy it.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>safetyfactorman, in his usual charming manner, writes:</p>
<p>[[<i>Albert Einstein stated that geographical pole shifts had occurred many times in the past. Why hasn’t anyone here addressed Big Al’s comments? Because you are MORONS???? Einstein supported both Hapgood and Velikovsky. The electric universe boys also support Velikovsky. Where is mainstream cosmology in addressing electric universe????? Duhhhhhh!!!!! Duhhhhhh! DOGMA. DOGMA. Duhhhhhh! Duhhhhh!</i>]]</p>
<p>You are misrepresenting Einstein.  He and Velikovsky were friends, and were often photographed together.  But Einstein, while polite about it, did NOT buy Velikovsky&#8217;s theory.  Nor does anyone who knows a bit about astronomy.  And I couldn&#8217;t care less what the &#8220;electric universe boys&#8221; support, since they are also crackpots.  The electric universe theory (stars are cathodes?) is contradicted by so much direct observation that you would have to be completely ignorant of modern astronomy to buy it.</p>
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		<title>By: safetyfactorman</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/comment-page-4/#comment-65742</link>
		<dc:creator>safetyfactorman</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:57:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/#comment-65742</guid>
		<description>This will be my last post to this site:

&quot;I do not fear bad or mean, but I am very much afraid of stupid.&quot;

1.  To Devolving squid, if what you said about the frequency of near misses is correct, then you are without any credibility whatsoever.  There have been at least 5 near misses of asteroids with earth within the last 2 months or so.  And I quote:

*********************************************

The asteroid MD5 (bound for Mars; ETA January 30th) had a close call with Earth a couple of months ago (check orbital path). WD5 came closest to Earth around November 4, 2007, but wasn&#039;t discovered by scientists until two weeks later.

Then there was 2007 YP56 (orbit) coming halfway between our Earth and Moon (.5 lunar distance) on December 27th, 2007.

2008 AF3 was discovered a few weeks ago, on January 10 [orbit] and was as close as our moon.

2008 BW2 was also as close as our moon on January 16 [orbit] although it was relatively small.

So, within a 2-month timespan we&#039;ve have 5 asteroids that will have been dangerously close to the Earth. No wonder NASA wanted to keep mum with TU24 and say there&#039;s no danger.

*******************************************

It doesn&#039;t look very good at all when NASA discovers near miss asteroids 2 weeks after they pass by.

2.  Tiahuanacu is a seaport.  At least it is designated as such, by the archeologist who lived there and studied it for 50 years.  Didn&#039;t any of you losers google &quot;Tiahuanacu sea port&quot;.  The port could support hundreds of ships.  Lake Titicaca is a salt lake, and it contains sea creatures.  The fossils around Tiahuanacu are from the sea.

3.  Underwater cities ARE being found all the time.

  a.  just do a google on &quot;ocean engineer Paulina Zelitsky sunken city&quot;.  The chief geologist of the Cuban government has stated that the site is of human origin.  The megalith structures are deemed to have sunk between 15,000 and 50,000 years ago.

  b.  And I quote &quot;6000-Year-Old Underwater Ruins Discovered Off Indian Coast (&quot;..In a major marine archaeological discovery, the Indian scientists have come up with excellent geometric objects below the sea bed in the western coast similar to the Harappan like ruins.,,&quot; - News)&quot;

  c.  google &quot;Yonaguni island undersea ruins&quot;.  Lots to read, if you care to.  But of course, ignorance is based upon a refusal to look at anything other than the dogma that narrow minds cling to.

4.  Albert Einstein stated that geographical pole shifts had occurred many times in the past.  Why hasn&#039;t anyone here addressed Big Al&#039;s comments?  Because you are MORONS????  Einstein supported both Hapgood and Velikovsky.  The electric universe boys also support Velikovsky.  Where is mainstream cosmology in addressing electric universe?????  Duhhhhhh!!!!! Duhhhhhh! DOGMA. DOGMA. Duhhhhhh!  Duhhhhh!

5.  &quot;Probably because there’s no physical object known as a “gravity wave.&quot;  You may be right.  But I do know one thing - galaxies exist.  Matter revolves around the galactic center, more or less on a flat plane.  The point is, to anyone with a neuron to contemplate, whether the density of objects increases or decreases with proximity to the galactic plane.  Our solar system is approaching the galactic plane.  Can any of you MORONS quote any scientific information that would address this issue?????????????

6.  Devolving Squid said &quot;Asteroids do not become electromagnetically charged. They only way they could do so would literally be for someone to go up and rub cats all over them, or stroke the metal ones gently with a magnet.&quot;  Did you watch &quot;Thunderbolts of the Gods&quot;?  Nasa couldn&#039;t explain why the test collision with the asteroid resulted in a big zap.  Your ignorance is astounding, that you should proffer yourself as an expert.  You are an incompetent boob.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This will be my last post to this site:</p>
<p>&#8220;I do not fear bad or mean, but I am very much afraid of stupid.&#8221;</p>
<p>1.  To Devolving squid, if what you said about the frequency of near misses is correct, then you are without any credibility whatsoever.  There have been at least 5 near misses of asteroids with earth within the last 2 months or so.  And I quote:</p>
<p>*********************************************</p>
<p>The asteroid MD5 (bound for Mars; ETA January 30th) had a close call with Earth a couple of months ago (check orbital path). WD5 came closest to Earth around November 4, 2007, but wasn&#8217;t discovered by scientists until two weeks later.</p>
<p>Then there was 2007 YP56 (orbit) coming halfway between our Earth and Moon (.5 lunar distance) on December 27th, 2007.</p>
<p>2008 AF3 was discovered a few weeks ago, on January 10 [orbit] and was as close as our moon.</p>
<p>2008 BW2 was also as close as our moon on January 16 [orbit] although it was relatively small.</p>
<p>So, within a 2-month timespan we&#8217;ve have 5 asteroids that will have been dangerously close to the Earth. No wonder NASA wanted to keep mum with TU24 and say there&#8217;s no danger.</p>
<p>*******************************************</p>
<p>It doesn&#8217;t look very good at all when NASA discovers near miss asteroids 2 weeks after they pass by.</p>
<p>2.  Tiahuanacu is a seaport.  At least it is designated as such, by the archeologist who lived there and studied it for 50 years.  Didn&#8217;t any of you losers google &#8220;Tiahuanacu sea port&#8221;.  The port could support hundreds of ships.  Lake Titicaca is a salt lake, and it contains sea creatures.  The fossils around Tiahuanacu are from the sea.</p>
<p>3.  Underwater cities ARE being found all the time.</p>
<p>  a.  just do a google on &#8220;ocean engineer Paulina Zelitsky sunken city&#8221;.  The chief geologist of the Cuban government has stated that the site is of human origin.  The megalith structures are deemed to have sunk between 15,000 and 50,000 years ago.</p>
<p>  b.  And I quote &#8220;6000-Year-Old Underwater Ruins Discovered Off Indian Coast (&#8221;..In a major marine archaeological discovery, the Indian scientists have come up with excellent geometric objects below the sea bed in the western coast similar to the Harappan like ruins.,,&#8221; &#8211; News)&#8221;</p>
<p>  c.  google &#8220;Yonaguni island undersea ruins&#8221;.  Lots to read, if you care to.  But of course, ignorance is based upon a refusal to look at anything other than the dogma that narrow minds cling to.</p>
<p>4.  Albert Einstein stated that geographical pole shifts had occurred many times in the past.  Why hasn&#8217;t anyone here addressed Big Al&#8217;s comments?  Because you are MORONS????  Einstein supported both Hapgood and Velikovsky.  The electric universe boys also support Velikovsky.  Where is mainstream cosmology in addressing electric universe?????  Duhhhhhh!!!!! Duhhhhhh! DOGMA. DOGMA. Duhhhhhh!  Duhhhhh!</p>
<p>5.  &#8220;Probably because there’s no physical object known as a “gravity wave.&#8221;  You may be right.  But I do know one thing &#8211; galaxies exist.  Matter revolves around the galactic center, more or less on a flat plane.  The point is, to anyone with a neuron to contemplate, whether the density of objects increases or decreases with proximity to the galactic plane.  Our solar system is approaching the galactic plane.  Can any of you MORONS quote any scientific information that would address this issue?????????????</p>
<p>6.  Devolving Squid said &#8220;Asteroids do not become electromagnetically charged. They only way they could do so would literally be for someone to go up and rub cats all over them, or stroke the metal ones gently with a magnet.&#8221;  Did you watch &#8220;Thunderbolts of the Gods&#8221;?  Nasa couldn&#8217;t explain why the test collision with the asteroid resulted in a big zap.  Your ignorance is astounding, that you should proffer yourself as an expert.  You are an incompetent boob.</p>
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		<title>By: Peter B</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/comment-page-4/#comment-65741</link>
		<dc:creator>Peter B</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:31:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/#comment-65741</guid>
		<description>Observer 2008 said: &quot;This one seems the most realistic version. We will all just have to wait and see though wont we...&quot;

You sound like you&#039;re trying hard to not be convinced of what the Bad Astronomer is saying.

If I have a problem with my car or my teeth, I ask a mechanic and a dentist respectively. I don&#039;t assume they might be covering something up and instead ask some random person I find on the Internet.

So when Phil says there&#039;s nothing to worry about with this asteroid, I&#039;m more likely to listen to him than to TU24.org.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Observer 2008 said: &#8220;This one seems the most realistic version. We will all just have to wait and see though wont we&#8230;&#8221;</p>
<p>You sound like you&#8217;re trying hard to not be convinced of what the Bad Astronomer is saying.</p>
<p>If I have a problem with my car or my teeth, I ask a mechanic and a dentist respectively. I don&#8217;t assume they might be covering something up and instead ask some random person I find on the Internet.</p>
<p>So when Phil says there&#8217;s nothing to worry about with this asteroid, I&#8217;m more likely to listen to him than to TU24.org.</p>
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		<title>By: taddoo7</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/comment-page-4/#comment-65740</link>
		<dc:creator>taddoo7</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jan 2008 07:15:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/#comment-65740</guid>
		<description>About an hour and 25 min to go.... no &quot;strange weather&quot; .. just weather... no earth quakes...no weird electrical disturbances..etc.
just seems like any other night.

BUT if i&#039;m wrong.. see ya all on the other side! PEACE</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>About an hour and 25 min to go&#8230;. no &#8220;strange weather&#8221; .. just weather&#8230; no earth quakes&#8230;no weird electrical disturbances..etc.<br />
just seems like any other night.</p>
<p>BUT if i&#8217;m wrong.. see ya all on the other side! PEACE</p>
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		<title>By: Observer2008</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/comment-page-4/#comment-65739</link>
		<dc:creator>Observer2008</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jan 2008 22:48:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/#comment-65739</guid>
		<description>Ah ok well I have been reading numerous different versions about this asteroid, all over the web LOL! This one seems the most realistic version.

We will all just have to wait and see though wont we ;)

For me being based in the UK it should be passing Earth in approx 6 hrs time and it is now 22.46pm, but unfortunately I shall miss all the excitement as I will be asleep.

I always miss the good stuff :((

Take care all xx</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ah ok well I have been reading numerous different versions about this asteroid, all over the web LOL! This one seems the most realistic version.</p>
<p>We will all just have to wait and see though wont we <img src='http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>For me being based in the UK it should be passing Earth in approx 6 hrs time and it is now 22.46pm, but unfortunately I shall miss all the excitement as I will be asleep.</p>
<p>I always miss the good stuff <img src='http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_sad.gif' alt=':(' class='wp-smiley' /> (</p>
<p>Take care all xx</p>
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		<title>By: Drax</title>
		<link>http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/comment-page-4/#comment-65738</link>
		<dc:creator>Drax</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:59:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/01/23/2007-tu24-miss-distance-update/#comment-65738</guid>
		<description>Just out of curiosity.  They say this asteroid is moving pretty quick, and when you look at the orbits distance, it seems to progressively climb before passing and fall after passing.  But from the 29th it&#039;s closest approach to the 30th , it doesn&#039;t seem to really go anywhere?  why does it seem to slow down so much?
http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2007%20TU24;orb=1

26th= .0188
27th= .0136
28th= .0086
------------
29th= .0045
30th= .0047
-------------
31st= .0090
1st=   .0140

Its probably a stupid question and was probably asked before, but I figured I&#039;d ask anyway.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Just out of curiosity.  They say this asteroid is moving pretty quick, and when you look at the orbits distance, it seems to progressively climb before passing and fall after passing.  But from the 29th it&#8217;s closest approach to the 30th , it doesn&#8217;t seem to really go anywhere?  why does it seem to slow down so much?<br />
<a href="http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2007%20TU24;orb=1" rel="nofollow">http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2007%20TU24;orb=1</a></p>
<p>26th= .0188<br />
27th= .0136<br />
28th= .0086<br />
&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<br />
29th= .0045<br />
30th= .0047<br />
&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-<br />
31st= .0090<br />
1st=   .0140</p>
<p>Its probably a stupid question and was probably asked before, but I figured I&#8217;d ask anyway.</p>
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