Actually, it isn’t luck. It’s because outer space is really big and objects are very far apart. Also, most of the debris left over from the creation of the solar system was assimilated by the sun or planets, mainly Jupiter, billions of years ago. Most of the remaining debris is circulating in the asteroid belt beyond Jupiter’s orbit posing no threat to us.
Astronomers see no threats to the Earth of the asteroids and comets we know about but they are only 40% of the estimated total circulating in the solar system. While there will always be the chance one will come from deep space and impact Earth, the odds of that happening are very low.
So what about the one that killed the dinosaurs? That was 65 million years ago and really was bad luck for them and good luck for us. It could happen but there is far greater likelihood human civilization will end its own existence before that happens again.
The solar system is billions of years old. Most things have settled into orbit or crashed into or have been pulled into the sun or the planets long ago.
Yes, the continous tug of war between the sun and Jupiter and various other planets may change an orbit or two, but we seem to be pretty safe at this point in history.
Now all we have to do is survive as a civilization for a hundred more years or so and then we will have a much better early warning system and ways of protecting ourselves. DART is a start down that path.
(though an impact that takes out a small town or leaves a crater big enough for the media to go nuts over would speed up the process of coming up with a defense system by decades)
allen@home over 2 years ago
Sweet dreams little Iggy.
vlad8601 over 2 years ago
not luck. jupiter catches most of the rocks
Mediatech over 2 years ago
Dumb luck killed the dinosaurs.
bxclent Premium Member over 2 years ago
See todays brewster rockit
https://www.gocomics.com/brewsterrockit/2021/11/28?ct=v&cti=1843333
Willywise52 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Dumb luck and D.A.R.T.
assrdood over 2 years ago
@willywise52
Dallas Area Rapid Transit??
BeniHanna6 Premium Member over 2 years ago
65 million years is just a blink of time for the cosmos.
cuzinron47 over 2 years ago
And all lived happily ever after. Now feel better?
Moonkey Premium Member over 2 years ago
I like to watch Chihuahuas vibrate. It seems to be their default setting.
Bill D. Kat Premium Member over 2 years ago
Actually, it isn’t luck. It’s because outer space is really big and objects are very far apart. Also, most of the debris left over from the creation of the solar system was assimilated by the sun or planets, mainly Jupiter, billions of years ago. Most of the remaining debris is circulating in the asteroid belt beyond Jupiter’s orbit posing no threat to us.
Astronomers see no threats to the Earth of the asteroids and comets we know about but they are only 40% of the estimated total circulating in the solar system. While there will always be the chance one will come from deep space and impact Earth, the odds of that happening are very low.
So what about the one that killed the dinosaurs? That was 65 million years ago and really was bad luck for them and good luck for us. It could happen but there is far greater likelihood human civilization will end its own existence before that happens again.
SheMc over 2 years ago
Poor Iggy, sweet dreams XXX
ChrisTrey over 2 years ago
The solar system is billions of years old. Most things have settled into orbit or crashed into or have been pulled into the sun or the planets long ago.
Yes, the continous tug of war between the sun and Jupiter and various other planets may change an orbit or two, but we seem to be pretty safe at this point in history.
Now all we have to do is survive as a civilization for a hundred more years or so and then we will have a much better early warning system and ways of protecting ourselves. DART is a start down that path.
(though an impact that takes out a small town or leaves a crater big enough for the media to go nuts over would speed up the process of coming up with a defense system by decades)