Is it possible to launch a nuke at Apophis asteroid, when it is visiting earth, in such a way that it directs the asteroid towards earth? (lemmy.world)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[-] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago

Short answer: no

If you wanted to redirect it, you'd want to start nudging it way before it gets to earth.

Here's an example:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Asteroid_Redirection_Test

[-] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

what if i send 100 missions like these, but to direct it to earth?

[-] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

Sure, there are plenty of options. Just do these in reverse:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid_impact_avoidance#Nuclear_explosive_device

[-] [email protected] 11 points 6 months ago

very cool, hey i like you, thanks for helping me

just because you were nice to me, i'd like to advice you to leave earth before 2029

[-] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

In case you are into it, this is actually one of the plot lines in The Expanse (spoilers).

[-] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I would think that Allah would be able to figure something out without needing nuclear weapons.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

... And yet, here we are.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

indeed

[-] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

If Allah cared we would all be in hell already.

Wait a minute...

[-] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

Asking for a friend?

[-] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

Like reverse Armageddon?

[-] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I thought reverse Armageddon was where you send astronauts to go work in a mine for ... reasons?

[-] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

I can picture Steve Buscemi in this standing on earth this time, stating "this place is like Dr. Seuss's worst nightmare"

[-] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

I'd watch it.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

Settle down there Dr.Evil...

[-] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

The hard part is launching a nuke without setting off nuclear armageddon when all of the nuke-holding countries panic and launch theirs, so uh ... why bother with the asteroid part?

[-] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

I don't know, but someone should try. Maybe it would knock us into a less stupid timeline.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

It would blow apart the asteroid.

A lot of then aren't sold rocks, but loose groups of small rocks and dust held together only by a small amount of gravity because there's nothing else around.