![]() ![]() "That would be a serious event," said Johnson. ![]() Such a blast could harm or devastate an urban area today. People 20 miles away were "thrown into the air." (opens in a new tab) Forty miles away, the blast threw a man from his chair (opens in a new tab). Called the "Tunguska Event," the resulting shockwave mowed down trees. Yet this planetary defense office exists because, at some point, a significant impact is inevitable ( unless we build technologies to successfully deflect threatening objects (opens in a new tab).) On June 30, 1908, an asteroid, some 120 feet (37 meters) wide entered the atmosphere and then blew up over forested Siberia. "We have never actually issued a warning." (But they have informed the public (opens in a new tab) about what some asteroids of interest are doing.) ![]() "We have never actually issued a warning," said Johnson. Though sensationalist media stories about incoming asteroids are many, NASA hasn't ever sounded the alarm about a dangerous asteroid bound to impact Earth, or a very worrisome approach. NASA created its Planetary Defense Coordination Office (opens in a new tab) in early 2016, with a mission to provide "timely and accurate information to the government, the media, and the public on close approaches to Earth by potentially hazardous objects (PHOs) and any potential for impact." How scientists find the big asteroids that can threaten Earth If a serious threat to either a region on Earth, a large swathe of Earth, or perhaps the entirety of Earth, is truly on its way - and astronomers know about it - so will you. Mashable spoke with NASA’s Planetary Defense Officer, Lindley Johnson, who understands, perhaps better than anyone on the planet, what will happen when a big one comes. Rather, the stories are about sensationalism. These stories aren't about real danger many of the objects pass millions of miles away. Yet the internet - awash with clickbait - likes to incessantly warn of incoming threats with misleading headlines like "Asteroid heading our way day before presidential election," "Should you be worried about the 'potentially hazardous' asteroid passing by Earth today?," and "Massive asteroid will swing by Earth after Valentine's Day." But it will pass closer than 20,000 miles from the surface, which is closer than where some of the United States' most prized weather satellites (opens in a new tab) orbit.Īsteroids like Apophis hold a fascinating place in our existence: Big impacts are at once terrible threats to our lives and potentially the habitability for many species, but they're also extremely rare and irregular events. Crucially, the giant rock will not strike our humble planet. ![]() On Ap(which happens to be Friday the 13th), something unsettling will happen.Ī decent-sized asteroid, the 1,100-foot-wide Apophis (opens in a new tab), will pass so close to Earth it'll be visible in the sky from certain places. Tokosh's classes have been taken over by Department Head Paul Wilson and an adjunct professor.This story, originally published in June 2021, has been republished as part of Mashable's "Space Rocks" series. If the department head isn't helpful, he or she should next go to the dean of the college. Ponson said if any student had a problem with a professor they should go to the department head to report it. The panel sends its recommendations to the university's vice president. The panel will be composed of faculty, staff and students. He could not comment on the ongoing investigation, but said once the investigation is complete there would be a hearing to review the findings. Even though Tokosh resigned, the investigation is moving forward and if criminal findings are uncovered, Tokosh could face charges, Ponson said. Nicholls Director of Compliance Tommy Ponson is spearheading the investigation. He later deleted the post, but it is still linked to his profile. Former Nicholls Assistant Professor Joseph Tokosh posts on r/trashy that he has a clown fetish. ![]()
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