1.I heard that some people think that 2 asteroids will strike the Earth on August 12. Is this true? I don't think that this will happen, but I'm just asking to be safe.

2.I've heard that Mars will be close to the Earth on August 27. I just want to know that when this happens, is this event expected to case anything catastrophic?

Sorry for asking these questions, but I'm kinda new to astronomy and I'm a worry wart. 8-[

I don't know about number 1, but number 2....

The event will cause nothing catastrophic to happen. Mars has been that close before, and we are all still here! If someone tells you that something is going to happen, ask them why... Gravity" No. Collision? No. I can't think of anything else...

Oh... my guess is that no asteroids are going to strike the Earth on the 12th. Where have you heard that? I would like to look into it.

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þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon,
hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.

For Mars, look East in the late evening like 10:30. You cant miss it, Mars is spectacular right now. It will be rising earlier as it gets closer to the Aug 27 date.
It's only a fraction of a percent closer than it usually gets once every 16 years, so no... doesn't affect the earth except to give something neat to look at in the sky.

skyandtelescope

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I must not PX. PX is the mind-killer. I will face my PX. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the PX has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

The most important thing is to remain calm.

As for Mars being close ... keep in mind that scientists toss around millions the way the average person tosses around pennies. There is no risk to the Earth. It will be tens of millions of miles away. The big deal is being made because it will be closer than it usually gets at opposition. That means a great chance to observe the red planet (safely!)

Yep... Don't get carried away about Mars being particularly close... I think someone did the math and derived that an object of that mass at that range - has about the same gravitational influence on the Earth as....

A single M&M!!

[edit] Oh, and Renaim Clam.

No known asteroids are on a collision course with the Earth. We had a couple a short while ago that weren't seen until they passed so there is some risk, but on a scale of things to worry about, it's pretty far down the list.

Here's the main site for monitoring potentially hazarous objects in near Earth orbits.

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/neo/pha.html

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~~ ><>><> ~~ ><,,> ><,,> ...`;=;p d;=;' /\/\^/\ ^^ ^/\/\_
Democracy Now! - The lost art of investigative news reporting.

Oh my god we're doomed!

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I must not PX. PX is the mind-killer. I will face my PX. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the PX has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D> \/

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Those who repeat History are doomed to learn it.

More about Mars.

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"The moment we want to believe something, we suddenly see all the arguments for it, and become blind to the arguments against it." -George Bernard Shaw

that are to pass closely between earth and mars 37655 IIIapa, 2003gy,and 2003mu
the sit offered as well as this site
http://neat.jpl.nasa.gov/ at least I cannot find info, but

http://www.spaceweather.com/ displays 2003gy between
earth and venus and the other two between earth and mars.

I dont believe it was that they were headed to earth, it was more
like the three or two would be close and in between to be pulled
or collide with each other and or one of the planets.

As others have posted we can only remain calm,seems this cannot
be proven or disproven so time will tell.
WolkC how about a skittles rainbow shower?

You people are having way too much fun with the new emoticons. :roll:

[-(

Hey WolfKC, in that picture, was Israel at the top? Conspiracy!!!!

This is obviously a dis-info agent photo. We all know PX is the RED M&amp;M!

... Nancy was just wrong 'sall... Its the Red and Blue personas!!!