WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:06.879 The mysteries of the universe are found here on the 2 00:00:06.919 --> 00:00:11.560 Doctor Scully experience, a photo of a sort of theater 3 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:13.720 of the mind, as we like to call it. Thirty 4 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:16.160 two minutes after the hour, a very special guest during 5 00:00:16.160 --> 00:00:20.280 this particular hour, doctor David J. Tholan Co discover of 6 00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:23.000 an asteroid that you'll be hearing so much about the 7 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:26.640 Egyptian war god known as nine nine two up office 8 00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:30.719 and also joining us is doctor Carl Hurrico, a man 9 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:32.960 who served as a nation in the United States Air Force, 10 00:00:33.479 --> 00:00:36.880 a PhD of course in science and humanities, and also 11 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:39.119 a man who had the opportunity to use the Hubble 12 00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:44.280 space telescope to photograph an interesting galaxy and quaisar. We continue. 13 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:48.039 This is fascinating, gentlemen, Doctor Hurrico, your comment or question, 14 00:00:48.119 --> 00:00:49.880 I want to get you involved in the conversation. You 15 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:52.920 and I will spend the second hour together, but please continue. 16 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:55.759 I'm sure you're full of information and questions. 17 00:00:56.520 --> 00:01:01.560 Old I shuld tell him information about the size of 18 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:08.480 the asteroid, its weight, and also what classification, because I 19 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:13.799 noticed that you were given credit for organizing certain classification 20 00:01:14.120 --> 00:01:18.159 for asteroids, and so how would you classify it as well? 21 00:01:21.239 --> 00:01:21.439 Well? 22 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:27.920 How should I say this. I mean, the typical listener 23 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:30.560 is probably not going to be familiar with the classifications 24 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:37.439 on the scheme. We can broadly classify asteroids into two categories, 25 00:01:38.920 --> 00:01:42.879 one which we call the C class, which are the 26 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:48.000 seed basically comes from the term carbonaceous. Like you know, 27 00:01:48.599 --> 00:01:53.040 we have a class of meteorites called carbonaceous chondrites, and 28 00:01:53.159 --> 00:01:57.359 so the seed comes from carbon. And then we also 29 00:01:57.560 --> 00:02:03.959 have S class which are and the S comes from silicon, 30 00:02:04.120 --> 00:02:10.439 the silicaceous type rocks and Apopus falls more towards the 31 00:02:11.199 --> 00:02:13.719 S end of the classification. Now there are a bunch 32 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:19.120 of other classes of asteroids which you get into more detail, 33 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:23.400 but the two most common classes are the c's and 34 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:28.439 the s's and pops in this case, as I said, 35 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:33.159 more in the S classification. So if you look at 36 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:38.280 it spectrally, it doesn't reflect as much light at the 37 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:41.159 ulture violet and blue end of the spectrum because of 38 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:45.319 an absorption feature, and it reflects more light towards the 39 00:02:45.400 --> 00:02:47.199 red end of the spectrum. And then as you go 40 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:51.240 into the infrared portion of the spectrum, you start getting 41 00:02:51.719 --> 00:02:58.280 absorption features due to minerals like pyroxene and olivine, and 42 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:02.800 that ten to bring the reflectivity of the asteroid down 43 00:03:02.840 --> 00:03:07.199 as well. So it's got a very characteristic shape to 44 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:10.080 the reflectant spectrum, which is why we would call it 45 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:13.520 an S type, although there are subtypes. You know, you 46 00:03:14.199 --> 00:03:18.159 can get into all kinds of details if you want, what. 47 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:21.039 Size would you guesstimate? This is so the listeners understand. 48 00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:23.919 I mean, this is not something like the Chilibin's object, 49 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:26.960 which might have been sixty plus feet and cross doctor, 50 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:29.599 what would be the best estimate of size of this, 51 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:31.280 because that's important as we all know. 52 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:38.319 I would put it right around three hundred meters, maybe 53 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:42.919 a little less. I saw one smate of around two 54 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:50.560 hundred and seventy meters. Again, it really depends on the 55 00:03:50.680 --> 00:03:55.479 reflectivity of the surface materials. We've measured the brightness pretty accurately, 56 00:03:55.800 --> 00:04:00.159 and I should also mention that apothesis very irregular, are 57 00:04:00.240 --> 00:04:03.080 you shaped? It can change its brightness by a factor 58 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:07.240 of two as it rotates, indicating a somewhat elongated object. 59 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:08.400 Yeah, it's a tumble. 60 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:10.800 You start thinking in from of the size, you know, 61 00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:13.319 it's you know, which dimension do you want to measure? 62 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:19.480 So three hundred meters is a good ballpark figure. And 63 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:23.319 for those listeners who aren't familiar with the metric system, 64 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:26.600 that's about three football fields in to end. 65 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:29.319 Wow, And I put it in better perspective for the 66 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:31.720 New York audience and the East Coast audience, it might 67 00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:34.199 be the height of the Empire State Building or of 68 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:37.360 course the new building that replaced the Twin Towers, and 69 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:40.120 of course that's a pretty massive object. You know what 70 00:04:40.199 --> 00:04:42.160 we're gonna do, gentlemen, We're gonna go to the callers, 71 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:44.800 because they rule here on this book Cigular show always 72 00:04:45.319 --> 00:04:47.759 we go to line number one, Greg and Michigan. Greg, 73 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:50.199 you're on with doctor Tholn and doctor Herrico. 74 00:04:50.360 --> 00:04:54.639 How you doing, doctor Skying and your distinguished guest, mister 75 00:04:54.759 --> 00:04:56.439 Positive Boom shack o waka. 76 00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:57.279 Yes. 77 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:00.480 I've got to ask you, gentlemen. You know we've been 78 00:05:00.519 --> 00:05:04.920 around for billions and billions of years and there's you know, 79 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:11.720 billions and trillions of explosions and debris happening. Why haven't 80 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:16.480 we been hit with a meteorite or an asteroid that 81 00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:21.000 arguably you know, are destroyed the dinosaurs. Why haven't we 82 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:25.800 been hit what I mean, billions and billions of explosions, 83 00:05:25.959 --> 00:05:30.199 nuclear vision, nuclear future are happening. Why haven't we been hit? 84 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:34.480 Very interesting question there, because well, let the good doctors 85 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:37.720 explain it. Whoever wants to take that one step up 86 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:39.839 to the microphone in the theater of the mine, go 87 00:05:39.959 --> 00:05:40.680 right ahead, Jone. 88 00:05:41.959 --> 00:05:45.199 I would argue that we have been hit specifically by 89 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:48.759 the one that wiped out the dinosaurs, and there have 90 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:53.000 been other mass extinction events throughout history, you know, where 91 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:56.759 seventy five percent of species will will die off, and 92 00:05:56.920 --> 00:05:59.839 I think you could probably associate many of those with 93 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:06.040 asteroid hits as well. Although the Chisalub event sixty eight 94 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:09.560 million years ago is by far the most famous because 95 00:06:09.800 --> 00:06:14.680 it was such a large object, about ten kilometers in size, 96 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:18.040 the estimate producing a crater on the surface of the 97 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:21.519 Earth close to two hundred kilometers in diameter, right off 98 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:26.240 the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, so half 99 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:27.519 of that crater is underwater. 100 00:06:28.399 --> 00:06:30.920 Well, that's incredible, doctor, because the ken the things I'm 101 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:34.839 reading here in your qualification and doctor Hurrico, it's estimated 102 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:37.279 that the chi Salub impact, and I'm reading this ladies 103 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:41.920 and gentlemen, had the equivalent energy of one hundred million megatons, 104 00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:46.000 which is, in simple terms, one hundred terotons. That's ridiculously 105 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:49.079 off the chart. And if this particular asteroid you were 106 00:06:49.160 --> 00:06:51.560 the expert on it, a p office were to hit, 107 00:06:51.959 --> 00:06:55.639 it could have the equivalent energy of twelve hundred megatons, 108 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:59.439 something far beyond any nuclear bomb that we've ever detonated. 109 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:03.480 The so called Great Russians are Bamba that some say 110 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:07.120 was upwards of maybe fifty to seventy five megatons. These 111 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:11.160 things are very serious. But Greg, you're in Michigan, follow 112 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:14.920 up with that, because pretty powerful stuff. The good doctor 113 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:17.319 explained that we have been hit, and let's pray to 114 00:07:17.399 --> 00:07:20.439 Good God that we don't get anything even like a paphas. 115 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:22.720 Look at the damage it could do. Greg your commentary 116 00:07:22.759 --> 00:07:23.040 as we. 117 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:28.319 Close out, Oh fantastic show, have no response. Love you 118 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:30.199 and everybody, go for your dreams. 119 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:34.319 Hey sounds very positive out there. I love that, Doctor Horico. 120 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:36.360 Let me get you involved in the conversation on this. 121 00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:40.800 I mean, obviously, impactors like this are few and far between, 122 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:43.879 but what we're talking about here is something that the 123 00:07:43.959 --> 00:07:47.439 good doctor doctor Tholin is describing to us, is coming 124 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:50.959 to us with some specificity. Your response or comment to 125 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:52.079 doctor Tolin. 126 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:58.079 Yes, I was wondering about the event that occurred in Siberia, 127 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:01.920 the Tunguska event that occurred, Uh. 128 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:06.639 Yeah, yeah, ideas. 129 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:08.399 About that one, Yeah, that's an interesting one. 130 00:08:10.519 --> 00:08:14.639 Well, that object was a fair bit smaller than a pothus, 131 00:08:14.759 --> 00:08:18.839 an estimated size of about fifty meters roughly one fixed 132 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:22.399 the size of apothus, and it was a very remote 133 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:27.360 region of Siberia, so we aren't aware of any human 134 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:33.320 fatalities involved. But the U and the object was sufficiently 135 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:38.799 fragile that the explosion occurred in the atmosphere. It didn't 136 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:41.399 actually make it all the way down to the surface 137 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:43.960 of the Earth and produce a crater. So rather there 138 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:49.240 was an atmospheric explosion that produced a shockwave that was 139 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:52.679 detected by barometers, you know, pretty much all the way 140 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:55.720 around the world. They could see the atmospheric shockwave, you know, 141 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:59.799 circle of the Earth a couple of times from that event. 142 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:04.159 If a pafuse were to hit, it be a much 143 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:14.159 more significant event. However, just to you know, assuade some concern, please, 144 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:18.159 we don't believe it would be an extinction level event. 145 00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:25.080 Our best estimates are for extinction level events to involve 146 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:31.159 objects a kilometer or larger in size, So a POFUE 147 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:34.679 isn't quite large enough to be an extinction level event. 148 00:09:35.559 --> 00:09:39.240 It's big enough to ruin your day, certainly, it calls 149 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:44.759 a significant regional damage, but probably not enough to wipe 150 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:46.960 out humanity. 151 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:51.320 Yes, and I remember one of the university Yes, go ahead, sir, 152 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:51.679 I'm sorry. 153 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:55.240 I think it's all also worth pointing out that even 154 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:58.919 though we've ruled out the impact for twenty twenty nine, 155 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:03.840 it's worth pointing out that we've also ruled out impacts 156 00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:06.559 by Apophus for at least the next one hundred years. 157 00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:09.840 It's talk a while to do that. I mean, we 158 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:13.000 ruled out the twenty twenty nine impact in about nine 159 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:16.799 months after discovery, but amazing To rule out the twenty 160 00:10:16.919 --> 00:10:21.559 thirty six impact took seventeen years because of a very 161 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:24.799 small effect known as the Arcossi effect, that we had 162 00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:28.240 to detect and measure in order to rule out the 163 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:32.000 twenty thirty six impact. But once once we got that done, 164 00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:34.879 we're able to extrapolate at least one hundred years into 165 00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:37.519 the future, and we can rule out any impacts by 166 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:39.120 Apofus for at least that long. 167 00:10:40.039 --> 00:10:42.600 That's very interesting. We're almost up against another break here, 168 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:44.159 but I want to try to squeeze this one in. 169 00:10:44.360 --> 00:10:47.120 You probably know the gentleman Jay Milash at the University 170 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:50.080 of Arizona. I've been using his impact calculator and everybody 171 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:53.120 can go. I don't have the exact url, but I 172 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:56.159 found that very interesting that doctor Milush had put out 173 00:10:56.200 --> 00:10:58.679 this calculator that if you take the size of an 174 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:01.960 object and you extrapolate, you know, through the mathematics of 175 00:11:02.039 --> 00:11:04.559 that little thing, like an app you can find out 176 00:11:04.679 --> 00:11:07.480 just what the damage would be. Just look at the Moon, right, 177 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:09.840 ladies and gentlemen, to see the impactors that have hit 178 00:11:09.879 --> 00:11:11.960 the Moon. You know some of the craters on the 179 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:15.200 Moon that are sixty miles wide. Can you imagine the 180 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:18.559 massive object that came to the lunar sky, not the 181 00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:21.559 atmosphere per se. But it's good what you just said. 182 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:24.759 So again, we have about a minute. Clarify again, people 183 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:27.480 should not be overly concerned at this point. I don't 184 00:11:27.480 --> 00:11:30.080 want to put words in your mouth the apothes encounter. 185 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:32.600 How do you rate it? In simple terms? It's not 186 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:35.399 a big thing about an impactor at this point in time. 187 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:42.600 Correct, No reason for concern over apothus. There's more concern 188 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:48.000 about objects that we had not yet discovered. That's why 189 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:50.919 we're continuing to scan the skies looking for these things. 190 00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:53.399 You would agree that we. 191 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:57.120 Got to take the break, doctor, and I'm sorry to 192 00:11:57.159 --> 00:11:59.799 cut people off here. That's the thing I always will apologize, 193 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:03.000 even after I'm long gone on this particular planet, because, 194 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:06.000 as we all know, in the space time continuing the 195 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:08.879 clock rules more with the Doctor David J. Tholan Co 196 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:12.799 discover of Apophus, an object headed toward the Earth in 197 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:16.799 twenty twenty nine, and also our good friend doctor Carl Hurrico. 198 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:19.440 We'll be right back here on the Doctor Sky Experience. 199 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:21.679 We see your calls online two Frank and the Bronx 200 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:25.240 and on line three Robert in Philadelphia one eight hundred 201 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:27.240 eight four eight nine two two. 202 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:34.200 Hi, I'm done, Ales. 203 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:37.799 I worked on the software Frominum module when it landed 204 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:38.279 on the Moon. 205 00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:40.919 You're listening to the Doctor Sky Experience. 206 00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:48.240 How fast time flies? Forty seven minutes after the hour, 207 00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:52.159 Doctor David J. Tholan Co discover of the Apofus asteroid 208 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:55.080 and also our good friend, doctor Carl Urrico join us. 209 00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:58.360 Doctor Horrico and I will take the microphone together in 210 00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:01.039 our number two. In the meantime, let's go to line 211 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:04.480 number three and welcome Robert in Philadelphia. Robert, good morning. 212 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:07.960 You always have insightful questions. Please continue, all. 213 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:10.639 Right, doctor Sky, as always enjoy the show, and I'm 214 00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:13.000 glad to be talking to you and your distinguished guests. 215 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:15.440 I'd like to assure one of them that there is 216 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:18.919 no limit to the misinformation that our mainstream media could 217 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:21.639 put out. I'm not worried about it, because I'm pretty 218 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:25.840 sure even they can politicized and asteroids. But my question 219 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:31.279 is if I believe that our globular cluster, if you will, 220 00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:35.480 that sits between the arms, is going through the galactic 221 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:39.600 plane at present, and I'm wondering if that will increase 222 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:44.399 the amount of targets, the amount of interstellar objects coming in, 223 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:49.279 and maybe even jar things up into globular clusters so 224 00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:52.639 that maybe things within that change their trajectory. I mean, 225 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:55.480 I'm not trying to get all my calendar on you, 226 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:59.159 but I'm wondering if they were like coinciding as far 227 00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:00.200 as the cycles. 228 00:14:00.039 --> 00:14:04.360 So interesting, Yes, go ahead, doctor, this is interesting. Nottor Thollen, 229 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:06.639 I think that's more in your line of expertise. 230 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:16.240 Maybe not, well, I will I will say this. 231 00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:21.919 We've had three interstellar objects discovered so far. That's statistics 232 00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:25.720 of small numbers, So I mean, how many are we missing? 233 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:28.960 There may be interstellar objects flying through the Solar System 234 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:33.919 that we haven't found. Uh, they're a little tricky to find. 235 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:39.200 You know, we don't actually track every single moving object 236 00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:42.919 because we just don't have the telescope resources to do that. 237 00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:49.279 And I don't know if we've got the computational resources 238 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:53.639 to to try and link them all together. And you know, 239 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:58.840 because you get observations on different nights, you don't know 240 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:01.600 if it's the same object a different object, so you 241 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:04.519 have to run computer programs to see if if they 242 00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:10.120 have the same orbit. And uh, there's just thousands and 243 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:13.960 thousands of these objects being discovered every night, especially now 244 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:18.919 with the UBN telescope operating in Chile. So yeah, with 245 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:26.639 statistics of small numbers, you know, it's possible that the 246 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:30.200 rate of interstellar objects could increase. But I haven't really 247 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:33.200 given a lot of thought, and I'm not too familiar 248 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:37.759 with the globular cluster aspect of things. Uh, that's more 249 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:43.639 outside my line of work. So I'm going to have 250 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:48.679 to do some more research on that and more reading 251 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:55.480 and find out what the prospects are for absolutely, doctor objects. 252 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:58.120 No you say it, well, just like every medical doctor, 253 00:15:58.200 --> 00:16:02.080 we dig into specialties, and respectfully, I understand the question. 254 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:04.519 But Robert, you got a final ability to give a 255 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:06.759 comment or a question. And as the clock runs out 256 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:09.279 here soon so I was thanking you for being part 257 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:09.679 of the show. 258 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:14.320 As always, I appreciate the refreshing honesty from your guest, 259 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:19.480 doctor Sky, I really do. But one quick thing, how 260 00:16:19.559 --> 00:16:22.320 many more times would be would we have been hit 261 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:27.600 by asteroids and whatnot if we didn't have Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus. 262 00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:31.000 And that's a. 263 00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:31.840 Very good question. 264 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:33.480 You guys have a great night. 265 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:35.440 Okay, thank you, ro n Yeah, that's a good one, 266 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:37.200 Doctor Tholin, that's really fascinating. 267 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:40.759 Yeah, it is a good question. I'm not sure anyone's 268 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:45.600 actually done the simulations to try and answer that question. 269 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:53.080 My guess is that it wouldn't affect things all that much, 270 00:16:58.039 --> 00:17:03.159 partly because the Earth is such a small object, and 271 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:08.119 you know in space outer space is just so vast. Now, 272 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:14.359 I'll make an exception for Jupiter because the gravity of 273 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:21.200 Jupiter does cause objects in the main asteroid belt, especially 274 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:25.720 those near mean motion resences, to pump up their eccentricities, 275 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:32.240 and so yes, what used to be in a reasonably 276 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:37.960 circular orbit around the Sun can have its orbit increasingly 277 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:41.599 elliptical until it crosses the orbits of Mars and then 278 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:46.559 the Earth, and that can certainly increase the impact probabilities. 279 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:56.119 But I am not aware of any simulated you know, 280 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:59.319 any kind of simulations you know with a socism that 281 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:03.160 doesn't have it, to see how that would affect the 282 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.400 impact rate. 283 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:07.160 Got to ask you this before the show closes out. 284 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:09.440 And if we haven't gotten to you, ladies and gentlemen 285 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:11.319 on the phone line, like Frank and the Bronx, if 286 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:13.599 time runs out, either stay on the line or give 287 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:15.880 us a call back. Our number two continues where the 288 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:18.799 open lines in the theater of the mind do continue. 289 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:21.480 Of course, here's a question, and I know this would 290 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:23.400 take a long time to answer, but give us your 291 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:27.680 best summary. Planetary defense. We've heard about this, I know 292 00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:30.279 very little about this. I'd love to get somebody on 293 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:34.039 the air who's responsible, if there is somebody in our 294 00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:37.880 own government for planetary defense. Your thoughts on this, doctor Tholon, 295 00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:41.160 about how to quote protect us, what can we do 296 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:42.519 and what's being done? 297 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:48.759 Tell us, well, the Planetary Defense Coornation Office at NASA 298 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:55.799 is responsible for funding multiple sky surveys that are basically 299 00:18:56.000 --> 00:19:00.640 finding near objects. But they do a lot more than 300 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:05.000 just fun sky surveys. There's a lot of theoretical work 301 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:09.680 that is done on mitigation methods. You know, for example, 302 00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:12.279 if we find an object that's on a collision course, 303 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:14.839 what can we do about it? And I think a 304 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:19.279 lot depends on the actual size of the object, in 305 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:24.359 how much advanced warning you have. You know, the bigger 306 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:28.519 the object, the fewer techniques you'll have available to do 307 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:34.839 something about it, and the sooner it would hit, the 308 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:38.599 fewer options you have available. Because a lot of the 309 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:45.319 techniques that have been discussed involve very weak forces, and 310 00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:48.839 so the more advanced warning you have, the more you 311 00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:53.359 can move an object with a very tiny force. One 312 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:56.319 that's made the news is the so called gravity tractor, 313 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:01.680 where you simply fly a spacecraft up near an asteroid 314 00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:05.359 and let the mutual gravitational pull between the asteroid and 315 00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:09.039 the spacecraft, and then you just fire your rocket engines 316 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:13.839 and slowly pull the asteroid in one direction on That's 317 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:18.359 an incredibly tiny force, But if you have one hundred 318 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:22.240 years in which to do it. It doesn't take a 319 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:25.839 very big force to change the area of an asteroid 320 00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:27.039 by enough to miss the Earth. 321 00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:29.680 So well, you're right about it, because there was something 322 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:32.240 that happened many people don't know about the Dart mission, 323 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:36.559 an impactor on the addamous dimorphos asteroid situation, and apparently 324 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:40.319 doctor it either moved the little one or nudged it. 325 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:44.240 So again, that was a microscopic size object. But the 326 00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:47.000 worst possible way, and not putting words in your mouth, 327 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:50.559 would be the story that they've launched a gigantic starship 328 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:53.880 type rocket with nuclear warheads and an object even the 329 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:57.680 size of a pomfice. That may not be a good idea, 330 00:20:57.799 --> 00:21:00.519 why because of the residual left stuff coming off of 331 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:02.599 it like a shotgun blast. Wouldn't that be one of 332 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:06.039 the worst possibilities of pushing an asteroid or getting it 333 00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:06.960 away from hitting us? 334 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:14.480 Your thoughts, Well, actually, there's been some science fiction stories 335 00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:19.480 along those lines. You know, you can have a big 336 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:23.039 object and you can blow it up into a bunch 337 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:27.599 of tiny pieces, and if you don't have enough time 338 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:31.240 for the orbits to change by enough to miss the Earth, 339 00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:34.880 then all those tiny pieces are still going to hit 340 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:41.240 the earth. They may not cause as much damage as 341 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:45.079 a single impact would a lot of them. You know, 342 00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:48.200 the thing is, when you blow up an asteroid, the 343 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:52.720 tendency is to get a whole bunch of small pieces 344 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:57.599 and a relatively small number of big pieces. That's just 345 00:21:57.799 --> 00:22:01.559 the way these fractured mechanics work. And the small pieces, 346 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:04.480 those will thankfully burn up in the atmosphere. You don't 347 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:07.440 have to worry about those. It's the bigger pieces. You're 348 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:09.559 going to have a whole bunch of bigger chunks coming 349 00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:13.680 down in different places. You're going to have, you know, 350 00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:19.799 potentially very widespread damaged, but not as powerful an impact 351 00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:24.599 because those individual chunks are smaller pieces of rock than 352 00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:32.559 you know, the original single asteroid. So yeah, there is 353 00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:33.599 that aspect to it. 354 00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:36.519 Well, doctor the Todd, the clock has run out here, 355 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:39.559 but let me again thank you so much, and congratulations 356 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:42.039 to you and your team on finding these objects, and 357 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:45.240 particularly you'll be a very busy man, no doubt. As 358 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:48.960 this countdown clock goes to a office April thirteenth, twenty 359 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:51.799 twenty nine, an object that many say will be visible 360 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:54.200 to the naked eye, albeit just a little bit faint 361 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:57.440 in certain parts of the world, that's an unusual situation. 362 00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:00.319 But doctor, the most important thing I can and say, 363 00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:03.599 other than thank you, is that the hurricane La La 364 00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:06.759 passes you and the people in the island state of 365 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:11.000 Hawaii without considerable damage. We understand that the millibar pressure 366 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:13.759 just a little while ago was nine eighty five, which 367 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:15.920 means it's not a super dense but don't let me 368 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:18.160 put words in the mouth of the people who are 369 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:20.039 suffering through this. So doctor, I want to thank you 370 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:22.640 for joining us keep us abreast of this, and I 371 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:25.200 look forward to hopefully having you back, if you would agree, 372 00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:28.640 as you continue to make these discoveries and collect the 373 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:31.480 data on the p Office the Egyptian War. 374 00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:31.759 God. 375 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:33.359 Thank you for your time, sir, appreciate you. 376 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.960 I'd like to I'd like to take a bite to 377 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:36.640 doctor Teller as well. 378 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:38.799 Yes, please do, and your doctor you will be with 379 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:41.119 us for the next hour, but please continue, go ahead, 380 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:41.640 Doctor Rick. 381 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:44.559 I just want to say it was a pleasure of 382 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:47.400 being on the program with you, and I wish you 383 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:51.359 luck in the future. And I know that you gave 384 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:55.039 as much information in the way of being correct information 385 00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:58.359 as possible, and that's very rare nowadays unfortunately. 386 00:23:59.160 --> 00:24:01.920 Yeah, I hear you well. Thank you both for being 387 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:05.839 there and continuing on with Doctor Carl Hurco in hour two. 388 00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:07.559 We have a lot of things to discuss and with 389 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:10.559 you the audience, and obviously since the clock has run out, 390 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:13.079 if you would like, please either stay on the line 391 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:15.599 or again call us back. And that goes out to 392 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:18.839 Joaquin Online one in Pennsylvania and flynd two. Frank and 393 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:21.480 the Bronx apologized that we couldn't get you on in 394 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:25.039 this very quick and very very interesting hour here on 395 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:28.359 the Doctor sky Experience a homewark assignment if you like 396 00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:30.160 one out there, ladies and gentlemen, if you like what 397 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:34.839 you're hearing, go to this website, the skylive dot com, 398 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:38.359 just the skylive dot com, and I'm sure you will 399 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:41.480 be very impressed and learn everything you can. After the 400 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:44.200 radio shows not on the air, you will learn so 401 00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:51.119