Gps at risk from asteroid on feb 15th

[ianj99]

I'm sure everyone knows about the asteroid passing by us just 25000 miles away on 15th Feb 2013.

http://earthsky.org/space/asteroid-2012-da14-will-pass-very-close-to-earth-in-2013

Its inside the orbit of geostationary satellites so I wonder if it will take a few out and we'll lose some GPS accuracy.

25000miles is a bit too close for comfort and its back in 2020 for another shot if it misses this year!

Maybe this is the Mayans 'end of the world' day - just that our calendars are out of step!

 

[FWB]

Thanks for the link.
GPS satellites are not in geosynchronous orbits.

 

[ianj99]

Thanks for the link.
GPS satellites are not in geosynchronous orbits.

I know I was just testing !!

 

[tony_lavelle]

Oh no!

So it's just the geostationary ones that might get knocked out. We might lose Eastenders!

 

[lustyd]

So it's just the geostationary ones that might get knocked out. We might lose Eastenders!

I'm not usually one for praying, but if there is a god this would be a great gift to mankind for 2013.

 

[ianj99]

So it's just the geostationary ones that might get knocked out. We might lose Eastenders!

..and end up with nuclear armageddon as the debris, falling to earth over Russia is mistaken for a US missile attack and the Ruskies respond accordingly...

We're doomed I tell ye!

 

[mikemanor]

EGNOS

GPS satellites are not in geosynchronous orbits.

But the EGNOS satellites are geosynchronous - so if they are knocked out we might not know straigtht away that GPS has also been affected.

 

[FWB]

But the EGNOS satellites are geosynchronous - so if they are knocked out we might not know straigtht away that GPS has also been affected.

Good point, had forgotten that.

 

[KellysEye]

It won't hit any GPS satellites they are 12,396 miles high but it could hit ASTRA and Meteosat which are 26,283 miles high, but it's highly unlikely.

On the other hand >lose Eastenders...I'm not usually one for praying, but if there is a god this would be a great gift to mankind for 2013.

Indeed, that would be good news but it won't take out the TV transmitters/aerials on the ground.