I see an economic diasater coming...

[the_big_m_in_ok]

what facts did i overlook? that the people who track these things say it will miss? ...

Scientists have good, accurate instruments, but you still have a point.  They're good up to a point.  Then we pray and hope for the best.

...that if it hits the earth it will do local damage only because its just a pebble? ...

55 feet would cause damage, and it's smaller than the one at Tunguska.  Well, okay, a lot smaller.  Look at this...
http://www.astronomynow.com/080630Tunguska.html
...so, damage will be minimal, at the worst.  A 55-footer would most likely burn to dust.

...what do you think we should be doing?
fritznien

Unfortunately, nothing.  Acts of nature are something sometimes unexpected and have to be lived with.  That's what I don't let it worry me.

--Lee

[fritznien]

If it hit an ocean at some incredible speed, I imagine there could be a huge  .

Mags

@mags and Lee
no tsunami for a rock this size it just don't have enough energy.
lets do a worst case.
call 2011 MD 20 meters on a side 8000 cubic meters, let it be 3000 kilos per cubic meter and going 30km per second.
8000 x 3000 x 30,000 x 30,000 /2 joules=1.08x10EXP16 joules
one megaton is 4X10EXP15 joules approximately
so the impact would be 2.5 megatons if it was on the upper limit of its possible size and going more than 3 times the
best speed i could find for it with a quick google search.
a 9.0 earthquake releases 480 megatons of energy and that's the level of earthquake to make a tsunami.
so only a problem if your close, under 100 miles say.
Apophis will make a close approach in 2029, yes a hit will ruin your whole day,still low odds for that.
how about we worry about stuff that is happening and that we can do something about

[the_big_m_in_ok]

@mags and Lee
... Apophis will make a close approach in 2029, yes a hit will ruin your whole day,still low odds for that. ...
...However, there are unknown ones out there waiting to be discovered. ...

Right, I agree about the one that just went by.
But think about this, for mere discussion:
1)  Fill container ships and cargo ships with 2,500,000 short tons of, say, amatol. (20%TNT + 80%NH4NO3, by wt.).
2)  Sail then to the middle of the Atlantic or Pacific.
3)  Chain them together strongly...
4)  ...then scuttle the whole lot with deliberately sealed holes in their hulls that are all opened at once, electrically, say.
5)  When they hit the bottom, an impact fuse detonates the entire shebang at once.
6)  That might cause a tsunami, right?  Apophis is about 800-1,000 times the volume.  Even if it gets here in about 2029 or again around 2060 or so.

...how about we worry about stuff that is happening and that we can do something about ...

I completely agree.  That's why I'm not worried or scared.  I can't do anything about it.  I just try and survive.

--Lee

[triffid]

I was a member of the NRA back in high school (1960s).They taught us gun safety and how to shoot
triffid

[triffid]

I am still having problems with my computer so I spoke too soon when I said it was ok now.I don't know when I will get it fixed.I had to get a new cell phone the old one died so now I have to figure out how to get on the internet with the new cell phone.
When I mentioned getting a gun I was having a bad day with a copper theft at another house my family owns.I got the police involved and hopefully they will bring him in soon.Triffid