Should the Public be told about a possible Asteroid Impact ?

[Blobfish]

Last Saturday, astronomers discovered a new asteroid, just a few hours before it almost hit us.

The asteroid is called 2016 QA2, and it missed the Earth by less than a quarter of the distance to the moon.
That puts it about three times as far away from Earth as our farthest satellites. And we never saw it coming.
Ah yes.. but that's what they say.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/spac...d-by-asteroid/

If a large Asteroid was on course to hit Planet Earth. Should Authorities let the public know?

The Asteroid that possibly made the dinosaurs extinct and according to abundant geological evidence, was an asteroid
roughly 10 km (6 miles) across.
https://www.psi.edu/epo/ktimpact/ktimpact.html

I have always wondered how Humans would react to a sign of impending disaster and possible death.

Would individuals suddenly go on a raping & pillaging spree?
Would the Church's suddenly find themselves full , with people asking for forgiveness for their sins?
Would Supermarkets and shops suddenly find themselves looted ?

And then, if suddenly an Asteroid impact was averted, would Insurance companies have to pay up for a lot of mess ?

Informing the public of an Asteroid impact certainly has a lot of Social Responsibility attached to it..
Maybe it is best that the public are not informed.

How would you react to an impending Asteroid impact, if you where told a very large piece of space rock
was about to hit the planet ?

The 2013 Russian Asteroid (Meteor), was only 20 metres in diameter.. The sound wave smashed windows and injured 1500 people.

[Templar 331]

Too much warning and people will freak out. Not enough warning and people will freak out.

Tell no one and no one freaks out because we're all dead if it's big enough. If it's not big enough, "Why didn't anyone tell us?!?! Did they not know?!!? Were they hiding it!?!?!"

No matter what people are going to be pissed and freak out. I'd want to have 24-48 hours. Enough time to say good bye and do a few (legal) things before it hits.

[Deleted]

Given the paranoia and terror that occurs every time a muslim farts, I don't think the public should really be told about something which might actually genuinely threaten the planet, however remote the possibility.

[Bapestar]

Given the paranoia and terror that occurs every time a muslim farts, I don't think the public should really be told about something which might actually genuinely threaten the planet, however remote the possibility.

LOL, well played.

[chazus]

It doesn't matter, because it will be a case of:

1) Only one entity finds out literally hours before it happens, so no matter what they do, people won't find out.
2) Many entities find out (more likely) and it gets to public notice regardless.

[Ayla]

"people are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it."

No, we should never be told unless we have a way to take care of it years before it's an issue.

[Fahrenheit]

Just an FYI, the last part of that video the OP posted, the part with the flaming crater. It has nothing to do with the impact from a couple years go. That flaming crater is a purposely set natural gas fire gone awry.... For several decades.

[TrumpIsPresident]

I'd want to know because RIOT!!!

[the game]

I mean if it's an asteroid that could destroy all of us then I don't see a point of letting us know ahead of time. If it's going to hit there's nothing we can do about it. If it isn't going to hit then we're ok.

[apepi]

less than a quarter of the distance to the moon

For all intents and purposes, the moon is father away from us than people actually think. So no, they did not have to tell people.

[Kapadons]

No. You people are all idiots. The world would end before the world would end. Then the moons gravity pushes it out of impact range and we are left to clean up the mess.

[EliWallach]

Well, it's not likely to be an instantaneous death. A lot will die from the initial impact but many will live on for quite some time to die slowly as crops fail, food disappears and total chaos sets in. It would not surprise me at all if the government already has survival plans for the favored few in which case they won't let the general public know until they're safely hidden in their self-sustaining bunkers.

Some speculation:
http://www.astronomynotes.com/solfluf/s5.htm

[Blobfish]

I mean if it's an asteroid that could destroy all of us then I don't see a point of letting us know ahead of time. If it's going to hit there's nothing we can do about it. If it isn't going to hit then we're ok.

There is an Asteroid called Apopis which is due to pass very close to Earth in 2029..Within the orbits of most satellites

However, its close shave to Earth in 2029 will alter its orbit to a closer orbit in 2036.

I wonder, if NASA and other top Global space agencies are working on a project to throw it further of course.

And will Bruce Willis be still alive to help.

The diameter of Apophis is, as of the most recent 2013 observations, approximately 325 metres (1,066 ft).[2] Preliminary observations by Goldstone radar in January 2013 effectively ruled out the possibility of an Earth impact by Apophis in 2036.[11] By May 6, 2013 (April 15, 2013 observation arc), the probability of an impact on April 13, 2036 had been eliminated.[3] As of October 8, 2014, using observations through February 26, 2014, the odds of an impact on April 12, 2068, as calculated by the JPL Sentry risk table is 1 in 149,000.[3] Of objects not recently observed, there are about four asteroids with a more notable Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale than Apophis.[12] On average, an asteroid the size of Apophis (325 meters) can be expected to impact Earth about every 80,000 years

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99942_Apophis

[the game]

There is an Asteroid called Apopis which is due to pass very close to Earth in 2029..Within the orbits of most satellites

However, its close shave to Earth in 2029 will alter its orbit to a closer orbit in 2036.

I wonder, if NASA and other top Global space agencies are working on a project to throw it further of course.

And will Bruce Willis be still alive to help.

The diameter of Apophis is, as of the most recent 2013 observations, approximately 325 metres (1,066 ft).[2] Preliminary observations by Goldstone radar in January 2013 effectively ruled out the possibility of an Earth impact by Apophis in 2036.[11] By May 6, 2013 (April 15, 2013 observation arc), the probability of an impact on April 13, 2036 had been eliminated.[3] As of October 8, 2014, using observations through February 26, 2014, the odds of an impact on April 12, 2068, as calculated by the JPL Sentry risk table is 1 in 149,000.[3] Of objects not recently observed, there are about four asteroids with a more notable Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale than Apophis.[12] On average, an asteroid the size of Apophis (325 meters) can be expected to impact Earth about every 80,000 years

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99942_Apophis

Again. If it's going to kill us then there's nothing we can do about it. People should go on with their lives as if the earth is going to keep on spinning.

[May90]

A meteor is about as likely to wipe out humanity as Reapers are. So, we need to tell the public about the upcoming Reaper invasion, and train Commanders Shepards!

[breadisfunny]

A meteor is about as likely to wipe out humanity as Reapers are. So, we need to tell the public about the upcoming Reaper invasion, and train Commanders Shepards!

in other words you have no clue what your talking about.

[Beefsquatch]

I like to think that the movie 'Seeking a Friend for the End of the World' is pretty accurate on how the world would react to such news.

[Damajin]

I guess it depends on how 'possible' it is. If it's a low percentage then no. If it's more or less going to happen fuck yeah.

[Garnier Fructis]

Watch this and be scared. Asteroids discovered over time.

[May90]

Watch this and be scared. Asteroids discovered over time.

If we extrapolate this into the future, then in 300-400 years we will have a toroidal black hole around us...