Asteroid Expert Rates Nine Asteroid Disasters In Movies and TV | How Real Is It? | Insider
TLDRProfessor Gretchen Benedix, an expert in meteorites and asteroids, critically examines the portrayal of asteroid disasters in cinema and television. She debunks common myths such as the need to maneuver spaceships to avoid collisions in the sparsely populated space. Benedix explains the composition of asteroids, the implausibility of using explosives to destroy large ones, and the nature of shock waves in space. She also clarifies misconceptions about the asteroid belt, the potential effects of large impacts, and the differences between meteors, meteorites, and comets. The professor praises some shows for their use of real asteroid shape files and the depiction of thermal radiation effects. However, she criticizes unrealistic scenarios like meteor showers involving large rocks and the portrayal of impacts causing skidded tracks. Benedix emphasizes the importance of scientific accuracy in media representation and assures viewers that the Earth is well-monitored for potential asteroid threats.
Takeaways
- 🔍 Professor Gretchen Benedix has 20 years of experience studying meteorites and asteroids and evaluates their portrayal in media.
- 🌌 Asteroids are often misrepresented in movies and TV; they are not typically spiky with canyons and do not have gas or debris clouds.
- 🚀 The idea that spaceships need to steer to avoid hitting asteroids is a myth; space is vast and collisions are unlikely.
- 💥 The amount of explosive power required to destroy a large asteroid is immense, far beyond our current capabilities.
- 🌪 Shock waves from an asteroid explosion would not travel as depicted in movies; they would only travel in one direction.
- 🌟 Asteroids can be detected by the light they reflect from the sun, and coating them could potentially evade detection systems.
- 🌡 Feeling thermal radiation before a shock wave is realistic, as the thermal effects could cause burns before structural damage is felt.
- 🌠 Fireballs and meteors are different from asteroids; they are small particles that burn up in the atmosphere and are not typically visible as large objects.
- 🚫 Approaching or touching a recently fallen meteorite is not advised; they may not be glowing hot but could still be extremely cold.
- 🌌 The asteroid belt is not densely packed with rocks; it's a vast area with occasional asteroid families.
- 🛰 There are ongoing missions like DART to test asteroid deflection, and while movies may dramatize these events, the science behind them is real.
Q & A
What is the typical appearance of an asteroid, according to Professor Gretchen Benedix?
-Professor Benedix explains that while asteroids can be fully metallic, they would not be spiky or have canyons like often depicted in movies. They generally do not have a debris cloud around them and do not emit a significant amount of gas.
What is the biggest myth about avoiding asteroids in space, as mentioned by Professor Benedix?
-The biggest myth is that you have to steer your spaceship to avoid asteroids. In reality, space is vast and the likelihood of accidentally hitting an asteroid is very low. The real challenge is landing on one due to the different gravity regime.
How does the size of an asteroid affect the feasibility of using explosives to destroy it, as discussed in the script?
-The larger the asteroid, the more explosive power is required to destroy it. For an asteroid 20 kilometers across, it would take an explosion equivalent to 200 gigatons, which is far beyond our current capabilities. Even the largest explosion ever made on Earth was only 50 megatons.
What is the role of atmosphere in the propagation of sound waves, as explained by Professor Benedix?
-A shock wave is a pressure sound wave that requires an atmosphere to travel. In space, due to the vast distances between gas molecules, sound would not propagate as it does on Earth. A shock wave in space would only travel in one direction, not both sides of an object.
What is the likelihood of an asteroid the size shown in the movie actually existing and posing a threat?
-Professor Benedix states that we would likely see an asteroid of that size well before it could pose a threat to Earth. The chances of an asteroid 1,000 kilometers across existing and coming towards Earth is very low.
What is the difference between an asteroid, a comet, and a meteorite?
-Asteroids are rocky metallic bodies found mainly between Mars and Jupiter. Comets, composed primarily of ice and dust, come from farther out in the solar system. Meteorites are the remnants of asteroids or comets that have entered the Earth's atmosphere and survived the trip to the surface.
How does the script address the concept of a 'meteor shower'?
-The script clarifies that the term 'meteor shower' is misused in the context of large rocks. Meteors are actually tiny dust particles that burn up in the atmosphere, creating a streak of light in the sky, not large rocks.
What is the DART mission mentioned in the script?
-The DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission is an effort to test the feasibility of changing the orbit of a small asteroid by impacting it with a spacecraft to see if it can alter its path.
How does the script evaluate the realism of a scene where a character is standing near a glowing meteorite?
-The script states that a meteorite would not glow on the ground after entering the atmosphere. It might glow during its passage through the atmosphere due to the interaction with atmospheric gases, but once on the ground, it would be cold and not emit light.
What is the potential impact of a large comet hitting the Earth, as discussed in the script?
-While a large comet impact would cause significant damage and potentially lead to a global catastrophe, it would not destroy the Earth. The Earth would be severely affected, but it would not be broken apart or significantly altered in its orbit.
How does the script discuss the current state of asteroid tracking and the potential for a large asteroid impact?
-The script emphasizes that we are doing a good job of tracking potentially hazardous objects in space. The probability of a large asteroid impact is very low due to the evolution of the solar system and our improved methods of detection and tracking.
Outlines
🌌 Professor Benedix's Critique on Asteroid Realism in Media
Professor Gretchen Benedix, with 20 years of experience in studying meteorites and asteroids, evaluates the portrayal of asteroid disasters in movies and TV shows. She discusses the unrealistic depiction of asteroids as spiky, metallic objects with gas emissions and debris clouds. Benedix also debunks the myth that spaceships need to maneuver to avoid collisions with asteroids, highlighting the vastness of space and the rarity of such events. She explains the impracticality of using explosives to destroy large asteroids, citing the enormous energy required and comparing it to the largest explosions on Earth. Additionally, she addresses the misconceptions about sound in space, the origin of asteroids, and the potential for asteroid deflection missions, such as DART, giving a critical view on the realism of these scenarios with ratings.
🌠 Analysis of Asteroid Stealth and Impact Effects
This paragraph discusses the realistic aspects of a TV show's portrayal of an asteroid, including the use of real asteroid shape files and a stealthy coating that would make detection difficult. The narrative covers the potential for people to hear a loud rumbly noise from a fireball before seeing it, and the thermal radiation effects that would precede a shock wave from an asteroid impact. The summary also touches on the difference between asteroids and comets, the likelihood of an asteroid impact causing a global catastrophe, and the unrealistic depiction of an asteroid creating a skidded track before impact. The realism of the portrayed meteor shower is critiqued, with clarification that meteors are small particles, not large rocks.
💥 The Misconceptions about Meteors and Meteorites
The speaker clarifies the difference between meteors, asteroids, and comets, emphasizing that meteors are tiny dust particles that burn up in the atmosphere, while asteroids are larger rocks. They advise that if a fireball appears to be approaching, one should stand still until the last moment due to the distance from which it is observed. The summary dispels the myth that people can catch fireballs and explains that if a large fireball were to impact, it would be catastrophic. The paragraph also addresses the incorrect portrayal of meteorites as glowing upon landing and the remote possibility of life on a meteorite, noting that while precursors to life have been found, no direct evidence of life has been discovered. The realism of a comet impact causing a massive tsunami is also discussed, with the conclusion that the depicted scenario is highly unrealistic.
📊 The Ephemeris Calculations and the Risk of Asteroid Impacts
The final paragraph focuses on the scientific approach to calculating the potential risk of asteroid impacts. It explains the use of ephemeris data to determine the proximity of an asteroid to Earth and the criteria for classifying an asteroid as potentially hazardous based on its distance. The speaker reassures viewers that the likelihood of a large asteroid impact is extremely low due to the evolution of the solar system and the effectiveness of current tracking methods. The summary provides comfort that, despite the portrayals in media, the Earth is well-monitored, and the risk of catastrophic asteroid impacts is minimal.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Meteorites
💡Asteroids
💡Spaceship Evasion
💡Explosive Material
💡Shock Wave
💡Thermal Radiation
💡Comets
💡DART Mission
💡Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs)
💡Atmospheric Entry
💡Tsunami
💡Ephemeris
Highlights
Professor Gretchen Benedix, an expert in meteorites and asteroids, evaluates the realism of asteroid disasters in movies and on TV.
Fully metallic asteroids would not appear spiky with canyons, as often depicted in media.
Asteroids typically do not have a debris cloud or emit significant gas.
Large asteroids headed towards Earth would be detected well in advance.
The common myth about steering spaceships to avoid asteroids is debunked; space is vast and collisions unlikely.
Landing on an asteroid involves dealing with a significantly different gravity regime compared to Earth.
The amount of explosive power required to destroy a large asteroid is immense and unrealistic with current technology.
A shock wave in space would only travel in one direction due to the lack of atmosphere.
The asteroid belt is not a dense doughnut of rocks; it's a scattered collection of asteroids.
The size of rocks in space has decreased over time due to collisions, making them less likely to collide with Earth.
The DART mission aims to test if a small asteroid's orbit can be changed by a spacecraft's impact.
The likelihood of a large asteroid skimming the Earth's atmosphere and bouncing off is deemed highly unrealistic.
A show is praised for its realism in using actual asteroid shape files and considering the effects of a stealthy coating.
Thermal radiation from a large impact would be felt before a shock wave, potentially causing burns.
Comets, primarily composed of ice and dust, differ from asteroids and are more likely to produce a fireball effect.
The structural damage shown in movies from asteroid impacts is often exaggerated and unrealistic.
A large asteroid impact would not create a trail or skid mark leading up to the impact site.
Meteor showers consist of tiny dust particles burning up in the atmosphere, not large rocks.
The misconception that meteorites can be hot upon landing is corrected; they are cold due to the frigid temperatures of space.
The possibility of life on a meteorite is explored, though no evidence has been found to date.
The movie 'Deep Impact' is critiqued for its unrealistic portrayal of an asteroid impact and tsunami.
The probability of a large asteroid impact is extremely low due to the solar system's evolution and our ability to track near-Earth objects.
Transcripts
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