Back when I created this page, the media was in a tizzy about 1997xf11
or so, and then it turned out it wouldnt hit us afterall. Now it looks like 2004mn4 is likely to be a much more real threat.
How real a threat? they've named 2004MN4 Apophos after the egyptian God.
http://www.touregypt.net/godsofegypt/apep.htm
a short excerpt: Apep
Other Names: Apophis, the Destroyer.
Patron of: evil and darkness.
Appearance: a great serpent or crocodile.
Description: Apep was the ancient spirit of evil and destruction who dwelled in eternal darkness.
read the rest of the description at the original site.
So my original thought still stands: Establish a presence on the object and monitor it while building engines out of in situ materials. Use the engines to steer the object. In the Planet Mike calculations, I pick a planet (actually a moon) size to make it visible from earth. 2004mn4 would work well in this role, if placed 7000 miles away. I have no idea if this is practical, and neither do you. It's just math, so relax and enjoy. The old 1997xf11 page is here.
I never had the time or the inclination to write the gridship stories. Hope you're not to disapointed.
2004mn4-my page
2004mn4-NEO page
1997xf11-my page
1997xf11-NEO page
Back to the first page