Threat # 3 of 9

 

The last of the three threats from beyond our world I’ve labeled ‘Planetary’ because these involve collisions between planets and planetoids; moons, asteroids, comets etc. These smaller hunks of rock and ice are found in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter and in the Oort cloud from the orbit of Neptune to the outer reaches of our solar system. They’re the leftovers of the grand buffet that filled in the planets … but they can still cause a ‘food fight.’

The Earth was formed from the torrid union of a well hung planetoid and a stoned tramp.

 

                                              

 

And early on our world was rocked. Eventually, like marriage, things calmed down. But the cosmos can still get its rocks off … just ask the dinosaurs.

Scientists say it is just a matter of time before we have another extinction event. Lately, both our moon and Jupiter have been struck.

 

 

Closer to home, earlier this year one exploded in our atmosphere. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y66OHiB_p4I

Fortunately it was small. NASA tracks NEOs (Near Earth Objects) … but their budget just got cut! Heads up … we’re due.

Next up, the first of the Three Local Threats.