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Originally posted by DJW001
reply to post by mockrock
Already dealt with in your other thread.
www.abovetopsecret.com...
This is a request for someone to check the numbers... and very poorly dealt with!
Originally posted by Xcalibur254
It has not halved. The last observation used is still April 21, 2010. The media clearly just hasn't done its homework. Or more likely just confused miles with kilometers. There has been no changes to 2005 YU55's projected orbit. We are safe for at least the next 100 years.
Originally posted by SunnyDee
Wouldn't the intersection of something be the halfway point? The number you are reading is the MOID, minimum orbital intersection distance, right?
Sounds like this is the intersection of the minimal distance it will be from us. And that would be exactly half.
I'm just guessing here, but sounds right!
edit on 31-10-2011 by SunnyDee because: (no reason given)
In the additional information box.. closest intersection with Earth's orbit.. but I checked the future orbits and non matches up with this number, neither do ones in the past so what date does this figure apply to?
Originally posted by DJW001
reply to post by mockrock
In the additional information box.. closest intersection with Earth's orbit.. but I checked the future orbits and non matches up with this number, neither do ones in the past so what date does this figure apply to?
Until gravitational forces tug the poor little rock into a slightly different orbit, this distance will remain the same, theoretically forever. It means that whenever it crosses the ecliptic it cannot get any closer to Earth than that distance, whether the Earth is near that point in its orbit or not. It just so happens, the Earth will be near this point this time around, but fully 0.002 AU from the rock as it makes that crossing. In other words, 2005 YU 55 cannot hit the Earth for the foreseeable future. It cannot get closer than 0.00104 AU.edit on 31-10-2011 by DJW001 because: (no reason given)