What is bigger than Apophis and will arrive on November 8, 2011?

Asteroid 2005 YU55.

And no one is talking much about it.

This asteroid, first discovered in December of 2005, remains mostly a mystery.  Even its size is a guess.  What’s not a guess is when it will arrive again in the vicinity of earth.

The object was monitored a total of 42 times between December 28th 2005 and January 23rd of 2006.  Since then, this object has been speeding along its orbit around the sun, out of sight.  The next opportunity to view this asteroid will come in less than a year, on April 19th of 2010.  It will pass, according to estimates somewhere between the earth and the moon.  The distance for the April, 2010 encounter is estimated at around 150,000 miles.

The estimate for the November 8, 2011 visit is guessed at around 95,000 miles.  That close, but it doesn’t sound too close, it will probably just fly right by, no problem for us.  But wait a minute, before you get too comfortable, these estimates are based on a very short observation period and in fact, these numbers are just estimates, educated guesses at best.

2005 YU55 Orbit

Apophis was big news a few years ago when it was predicted to hit in 2029.  Much more is known about Apophis than 2005 YU55 and now it is said that Apophis will miss in 2029.  The size of Apophis is estimated to be about 270 meters across, about 885 feet.  2005 YU55 is estimated to be as large as 280 meters or 918 feet.

Certainly not big enough to be a planet killer.  Worst-case scenario, using the given estimates of size, the most thing could do would be to wipe out an area around 900 square miles.  It’s certainly enough to take out any city along with all of the suburbs.  It would leave a crater about four times the size of the meteor crater in Arizona.

 Meteor Crater, Arizona

The problem with 2005 YU55 is that so much is up in the air.  The actual size estimate given by astronomers is between 120 and 280 meters, that’s more than a 100% difference between the upper and lower estimate.  Even if the estimates on its orbit are correct, this thing has been left unattended in space for over three years.  It will have been out of sight for over 4 years when it returns in April of next year.  How would its orbit change if it were to have a collision with some small object during this time?

We will certainly learn more about this asteroid in April 2010 when it returns.  Chances are nothing will happen at all.  With any luck this will just pass us by like so many that have come before.  Everyday on earth we take part in a cosmic lottery of sorts.  Problem is, no one wants to collect the grand prize.  Some day though, we will collect that prize.  Let just hope it’s not in out lifetime.

NeoDys Information On 2005 YU55

 2005 YU55 Orbit Diagram

2005 YU55 on the impact risk table

Asteroid Impact Calculator

According to spaceweather.com, the sun has ejected a plasma blob.  Jean-Paul Godard of Paris France captured the images.  He said, “I’ve never seen a fast ejection like this before”

Plasma Blobs or plasmoids are not unique to the sun.  They are also thought to be responsible for ball lightning on the earth. This event comes during a near record solar quiet period.

It has been predicted that the current near record quiet period will end as we near 2012, and will move into an abnormally intense active period.  Some are even predicting devastation for the countless satellites in orbit around earth.

NASA: Solar Storm Warning

A Solar Superstorm could send us back into the dark ages

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmet_streamer

As we approach July 20, 2009, the 40th anniversary of Apollo, the topic of the Apollo Hoax will once again rise to the surface.  Since July 20, 1969, when news that Apollo 11 had landed on the moon there has been a belief held by many that there was a hoax being played out before all of the eyes of the world.

Click here for the current poll

It has been a controversial topic of many documentaries and books since then.  It has also fueled heated debates in person and in forums as well as message boards across the world.  Will we ever know the truth?

There is an enormous amount of evidence freely available on NASA’s website, plenty of video and images, not to mention the first hand accounts of all of the astronauts and everyone else involved.  On the other hand, there were also plenty of motives to hoax the landing.  The US was under enormous (self imposed) pressure to be the first to get a man on the moon.  There are also some important pieces of historical evidence that are mysteriously missing from the records at NASA, such as the plans for the Lander, the Moon Buggy, etc.

So once again, as this important anniversary comes our way, let the debate begin.  Even after all these years there are new developments.  For example NASA claims some of the original Apollo 11 landing tapes have now been found (it is also troubling that they were ever missing.)

Option 1 - All Apollo Missions Were Real

If you hold the belief that all of the Apollo missions were real. You are comfortably in the majority.  According to a 1999 Gallup Poll (assuming you believe polls), 89% of Americans believe that all of the Apollo missions occurred just as presented by NASA. 

Beside the tremendous amount of data available at the NASA website, there is the fact that none of the Apollo astronauts or anyone closely working on the Apollo missions has ever wavered on the position that all the missions were real.  Not even Edgar Mitchell, who has, by the way, stated unequivocally that aliens are real.

There are some remaining pieces of equipment from the Apollo missions, such as command modules and space suits that can be seen at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. as well as other museums across the U.S.  There are also 842 pounds of Moon rocks that were collected by Apollo astronauts over six Apollo missions.

But really if you believe the Apollo missions were real you probably need no further evidence.  For those in the undecided camp, around 6% of the population, there is still room for convincing.

 Option 2 - All Missions Were Faked

For most who believe that the story as presented by NASA is not true, a large number hold the position that all of the missions were faked.  If this represents your belief, then you probably believe that we never left earths orbit and that all of the photos and video were produced in studios and at a peculiar site in Nevada near area 51.  Google Earth users can find this easily as it is (or was) clearly marked. 

Video: Area 51 - Apollo

Another one of the more perplexing facts is that there are no good photos of the artifacts that should still remain on the moon.  We have no photos of these despite a number of photo and mapping missions to the moon since Apollo.  It’s hard to believe that there have not been better images given that fact that you can see your own mailbox from space on Google Earth.

There are many items that are presented as evidence of a hoax.  Some of the more popular ones are listed below.

Angle of Shadows Incorrect
Abnormal Video of Earth
Dust Issues
Lethal Radiation

One of the more interesting hoax claims is the remote control camera that films the liftoff from the moon.  It would have taken incredible coordination and timing, still, it is possible.

 Video of Liftoff - Apollo 17

Option 3 - Only Apollo 11 Faked

Many people believe that only Apollo 11 was faked and the other missions were real.  Because of the immense pressure to deliver a man to the moon and the fact that they just weren’t ready yet, they were forced into plan B.  A Plan B that required them to fake the first Apollo Mission.

There are some startling differences between Apollo 11 and all of the other Apollo missions.  One of the most incredible is the liftoff from the moons surface.  Compare the following two videos.

Apollo 11 Moon Liftoff
Apollo 14 Moon Liftoff

The difference is startling.  What could possibly cause such a difference in the two films?  Is the Apollo 11 video fake.? Is it an internet hoax, or is this what NASA really released?

It’s interesting as well that Buzz Aldrin had a bout with alcoholism after the mission.  Not that alcoholism means the missions were faked.  But if they were, the big lie that would be required may be enough of a reason to turn to alcohol.

Space Legend Opens Up About Alcoholism

Another strange fact related to Apollo 11, is this video.  In it, Neil Armstrong who is usually unusually quiet about the Apollo Missions, had these mysterious comments back in 1994.

Neil Armstrong on 25th Anniversary of Lunar “Landing”

According to one site, Apollo 11 ‘Live’ Broadcast Faked

“We now have concrete evidence which proves that live pictures broadcast to the world by Apollo 11 which showed the astronaut jumping off the ladder down to the surface of the moon did NOT originate on the moon.”

Option 4 - Apollo Real Aliens Encountered.

At least one astronaut, as stated earlier, has said that extraterrestrial aliens are a fact.  Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell has stated that he knows for a fact that aliens exist and that they will not reveal themselves to us until we’re ready.

Astronauts, Aliens and the New World Order

Of course there is also this hotly debated video of the supposed Apollo 20 mission.  In this video there are what appear to be alien artifacts.  The video quality appears different from the other missions.  According to NASA, Apollo missions 18 through 20 were canceled.

Apollo 20 Mission

In another version, it is said that we were warned by the aliens not to return to the moon.  This is given as the reason for the cancellation of the remaining Apollo mission.  According to one professor, who remains unnamed, this was stated by Neil Armstrong himself.

There are reports of UFOs encountered during the Apollo missions.  Buzz Aldrin confirmed this on camera.  He said that they couldn’t report the UFO during the mission as the broadcast was being watch by the public.

Video: Buzz Aldrin UFO encounter

Apollo NASA coverup

Conclusion

Eventually we will return to the moon.  Eventually we will get good photos of the surface.  We should get photos of the items that should still be there, the Lander, the Moon Buggy, etc.  Really though, we should have those photos already.  As it is, we have better images of Mars.  If and when that happens will it settle the argument?  Probably not.

So what do you believe?  Did we really go to the moon?  Was Apollo 11 faked?  Were all the missions faked?  Are there aliens on the moon?  

Place your vote here.

The next doomsday scenario coming our way is in the form of an asteroid. There are many out there, but the next one heading toward us is called 2005 YU55 and it will be here before December 2012.

The original article on this asteroid 2005 YU55 appeared here.

For an asteroid this big, coming so soon, you’d think you’d be hearing more about it. Instead, news of this asteroid, as big or bigger than Aphophis, is almost non-existent. It’s first pass will be on April 19, 2010 , the second (after it goes around the sun) is November 8th, 2011. The current estimate has the second pass at 94,000 miles.   For reference, the moon is about 239,000 miles away.

Since this object was first spotted in 2005, it has been out traveling unseen (by us) though the solar system.  What has it encountered since then, has its orbit been altered, has it been impacted by another object?  Will it pass closer than the estimates, further, or will it hit us?  I guess we’ll have to wait to see.

Finally though, this object has add to the Risk List at NEODyS.  It’s still does not appear on NASA’s risk table.

NEODyS

In an interesting twist, while this object will be here in under a year, suddenly there will be no more data from the satellites.  The military recently classified all data on incoming space rocks. Space Rock Data Classified