On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 17:09:43 -0400, "Lise Eleanor"
wrote:
I'm a screenwriter and I have a question:
If a big enough asteroid hit Jupiter and a piece of Jupiter broke off, could
it become a rogue asteroid and head for Earth? (I've heard that Jupiter's
many moons were once actually part of Jupiter that broke off.)
If not, what type of situation can be proposed that would produce a
threatening rogue asteroid?
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The largest asteroid is, I believe, under 500 miles.
Many are the size of some mountains.
The size of houses.
The vast majority are probably smaller.
If the above is fairly accurate, the asteroid in question would have
to be travelling at a ferocious rate to have any chance to inflict any
damage upon Jupiter.
HOWEVER, then consider the size of Jupiter.
Consider that much of that is not solid --- it a an atmosphere.
A very large atmosphere.
An atmosphere that would have a very good chance of demolishing any
asteroid.
Your best bet might be to consider something from the Oort Cloud being
disturbed in some fashion (( collision?? )) and coming into the inner
System. It would have started on that journey quite some time ago.
IF you are interested, you might take a look at a SF-book called
Lucifer's Hammer by Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven.
Good luck.
---Mac