Talk:Near-Earth object

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1 Sky not currently surveyed
2 Volcanos
3 IAU definition of a Planet quiry
4 Updated Congressional Mandate
5 Inconsistancy
6 adding 2007 tu 24 closest approach ever

[edit] Sky not currently surveyed

Um, I changed "30% of the sky that has never been surveyed" to "30% of the sky that is not currently surveyed." For one, it's wrong. The southern sky has been surveyed. A NEO survey operated in Australia for some time before funding was cut by the government. And for two, it's a bit alarmist and misleading. Asteroids move. An asteroid that's in the Southern sky now will be in the Northern sky at some time in the future. If we miss our chance to see it this year, we'll have other chances in the future. Not looking at 30% of the sky doesn't mean we're missing 30% of the asteroids, it just means it takes us longer to find them.--Bankrobber | Talk 09:55, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Volcanos

...Volcanos likely pose a greater short and medium term threat to people, in general, than bolides and rocks from the sky. Pinatubo, one of the most recent Krakatoa-size eruptions, occurred within the past 20 years, and volcanos, particularly in the Pacific Rim, have been showing off with Plinian eruptions on a regular basis. — Rickyrab | Talk 03:58, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

NEOs threaten more people and are more likely to hit without warning. Volcanos kill those who fail to heed warnings and evacuate, much like hurricanes. Although, the longer time periods one must be away for a volcano are definitely more inconvenient, years instead of days.--Poodleboy 18:37, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] IAU definition of a Planet quiry

Any idea why do NEO's not fail Earth as a planet under point c, citing a planet must have cleared the neighbourhood around it's orbit. Surely NEO's are in the neighbourhood around Earths orbit? - JVG 15:37, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

I'd have to guess that the actual scientific criteria is more specific than "cleared out orbit." It must have something to do with the relative size of the near-by objects. Of course, you need some criteria that doesn't complicate matters further, given the Moon's large size compared to NEOs. —Taka2007 19:20, 28 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Updated Congressional Mandate

Didn't Congress recently update the NASA mandate to find all NEOs down to 140 meters in diameter? —Taka2007 19:20, 28 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Inconsistancy

Just a quick question: Meteoroid defines a Meteoroid as "between 100 µm and 10 m across". However, the N.E.O. page briefly mentions a Meteoroid as being smaller than 50 metres. Which is "correct"? (Or, at least, more widely considered to be correct? --Dave the Rave (DTR) 19:03, 19 September 2006 (UTC)