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BBC News reports on an ESA essay (PDF), Spacecraft risk posed by the 2016 Perseid outburst. The essay warned of
[...] enhanced activity on a level similar to that of 2009 as the Earth passes through several debris trails on the night of August 11-12 (UT).
[...] the projected kinetic energy weighted Perseid flux at the time of the strongest maximum is only increased by 50% above that of the normal sporadic background [...]
[...] the 2016 Perseids exhibited above average activity for over half a day, from late UTC on August 11 to just past the middle of August 12.
The BBC explains that this means the Earth was predicted to pass "through a particularly distinct bit of debris" that had been deflected by Jupiter. The meteor strikes have been taking place since mid-July and are expected to continue through the weekend.
additional coverage:
- Daily Mail
- Los Angeles Times
- NASA (Javascript required)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 15 2016, @03:39AM
This sounds extremely dangerous. If all the satellites get knocked out of orbit life as we know it would cease to exist! The articles mentions the 11th and 12th. Does anyone know if the world ended this past weekend? I don't have a TV...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 15 2016, @07:04AM
Knocked out of orbit? No, they just (potentially) get badly damaged by small grains of dust or rock moving many times faster than a bullet.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Bogsnoticus on Monday August 15 2016, @07:07AM
Yes, the world did end. God circulated an email about the Rapture, asking you to RSVP, but unfortunately the shower took out a Comcast satellite.
Genius by birth. Evil by choice.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 15 2016, @07:37AM
"What does GOD need with a Comcast satellite?"
(Forgive him, he does not yet believe.)
DO YOU DOUBT ME?
"I doubt any being that would need a Comcast satellite to communicate at all, much less with his own creations!"
Spivak: "Wait! The god of Sha Ka Ree would not be such a dick as this!"
OH, YEAH? WATCH ME!
*Klingon fire*
Kirk: "Well, that went well."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 15 2016, @01:59PM
Yes, it was a beautiful meteor storm. Lots of trails to see if you were out looking at them. And no real :OI@PT(*$@T*(@#$YTHG
{Carrier Lost}