FRIGHT FROM A BABY PLANET

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 154, 26 March 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

FRIGHT FROM A BABY PLANET

Passed 400,000 Miles From The Earth

Astronomers recently disclosed the

greatest scientific shock of the century. On October 30 last the earth was only 'five and a half hours off collision with .. a baby planet, one of a shoal moving closer and closer to the earth. The planet began its dash on October ' 25. Until October 30 the astronomical world was in a ferment, for the baby was rushing towards us in an almost straight -line. Finally it scraped past with only 400,000 miles to ‘spare. This near calamity was discovered by Dr. Reinmuth, of Heidelberg Observatory. He noticed a long streak across an astro-photographic plate on .. October 30. On the previous day a - plate had been exposed at Johannes- ; berg Observatory and a similar streak was found on it.

The body at present goes under the name of “Object Reinmuth, 1937, U. 8.,” in honoun of the Heidelberg astronomer. K What would have happened had the baby hit the earth? Dr. H. W. Wood, Union of South Africa astronomer, said: “It might conceivably have altered the international situation somewhat.” The Rev. Dr. Martin Davidson, President of the British Astronomical Association, vicar of ' Holy Trinity, Canning Town, told the Sunday Ex-

press :—- “The planet is only two miles or less in diameter, but it. would have created an enormous crater —probably hundreds of square miles—in the earth where it struck. “But the impact would not cause, the worst' damage. This would be

caused by concussion set up by terrific air waves and by the tremendous heat.. “Had it hit the earth in a populous part of the world it would undoubtedly have caused terrible tragedy. In 1908 a minor astronomical, a siderite, a stony form of meteorite, hit the Siberian forests, and thousands of animals were killed, forests completely razed and buildings and trees blown away. Fortunately it was a sparsely populated district, so there were few deaths.

“I predicted in 1932, when another baby planet passed within 7,000,000 miles of the earth, that we should experience more of these happenings, and that they would come closer and closer. This has come true. But I am not worrying about it.

“I do not think we shall see this baby planet again for two or three years, as it has shot right past the earth.

“Then we astronomers will try to observe it again. . These baby planets are so small that they cannot be seen, by telescope, and have to be observed by astro-photography.”

Professor J. B. S. Haldane said: “We shouldn’t let this happening worry us. Actually I believed that the orbit was gradually being cleared of these stray bodies. Most of the nasty things that could have happened to us have slipped by. . “Probably we shan’t • see any more of that baby planet, although it might turn up again fairly close to us.” > • .