Sunday, March 05, 2006
Update: 2004 VD17
The conspiracy to not update the JPL or NEODyS public Impact Risk calculations continues. Although the latest Daily Orbit Update has three new observations for 2004 VD17, which were published about 10 hours ago, neither site has updated their information. But we at Andromeda expose their secrets: according to Horizons (telnet) the May 5, 2102 approach has a minimum distance of 0.000015, down from 0.000016, resulting in a brand new Palermo scale rating of -- gasp! -- about the same. Why, oh, why do the government leaders keep this information from us?
By the way, the current calculations show a nominal close-approach distance of just 281,393 kilometers (174,850 miles). The Moon is 384,403 kilometers (238,857 miles) from Earth. Assuming in 96 years, humans have finally established regular traffic to the Moon, you can expect significant rubber-necking delays on your way in to work that morning.
By the way, the current calculations show a nominal close-approach distance of just 281,393 kilometers (174,850 miles). The Moon is 384,403 kilometers (238,857 miles) from Earth. Assuming in 96 years, humans have finally established regular traffic to the Moon, you can expect significant rubber-necking delays on your way in to work that morning.
