# micrometeors **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [November 1, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micrometeors/515917 "2009-11-01T04:50:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![thePanther](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@thePanther](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thePanther)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micrometeors/515917/1 "2009-11-01T04:50:06Z")
RE: [**What are the chances of a huge meteor smashing us flat?**](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/184/what-are-the-chances-of-a-huge-meteor-smashing-us-flat) So in a million years that’s 40,150,000,000 tons (40 billion) which is 8.03E+13 pounds. The mass of the earth is 1.3E+25 pounds… So, in a million years we only gain 0.0000000006%, which of course is offset by the amount of space debris the humans exude from the planet so I calculate it as a wash. Some think all the earth’s water came from comets. Where did the comets come from? Somewhere out there, a gigantic fridge exploded. Therefore, life on earth has arisen from frozen wiener + fishstick particles. Panther. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micrometeors/515917/2 "2009-11-01T12:37:06Z")
Early morning research indicates the comet should consist of 37% Peas and 22% California Medley. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micrometeors/515917/3 "2009-11-01T13:34:37Z")
> [@thePanther](#): > > … which of course is offset by the amount of space debris the humans exude from the planet … A high percentage of that space debris eventually returns to earth. ---
**Author:** ![bill\_henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bill\_henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bill_henry)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micrometeors/515917/4 "2009-11-02T16:39:18Z")
This article is so badly out of date its not funny. large strikes can be found at: > **[List of impact craters on Earth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_impact_craters_on_Earth)** > > Download coordinates as: > This list of impact craters on Earth contains a selection of the 190 confirmed craters given in the Earth Impact Database as of 2017.\[a\] > To keep the lists manageable, only the largest craters within a time period are included. Alphabetical lists for different continents can be found under Craters by continent below. there are other more comprehensive lists around. But since this article was written in 1976, it needs to be updated. The odds of getting hit an any given year - very low. But it has a higher chance of wiping out all intelligent life on earth than just about anything else. And we all “know” that 2012 is end the world apparently. Canuck Bill in Bellingham ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micrometeors/515917/5 "2009-11-02T17:51:03Z")
Low probability but extremely high risk - fortunately, the Planetary Society is on the case: [http://www.planetary.org/programs/projects/apophis\_competition/](http://www.planetary.org/programs/projects/apophis_competition/) ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micrometeors/515917/6 "2009-11-02T20:26:10Z")
> [@bill\_henry](#): > > This article is so badly out of date its not funny. large strikes can be found at: > > [List of impact structures on Earth - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_impact_craters_on_Earth) > > there are other more comprehensive lists around. But since this article was written in 1976, it needs to be updated. > > The odds of getting hit an any given year - very low. But it has a higher chance of wiping out all intelligent life on earth than just about anything else. And we all “know” that 2012 is end the world apparently. > > Canuck Bill in Bellingham [Here’s](http://www.unb.ca/passc/ImpactDatabase/) a better list, with pictures. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micrometeors/515917/7 "2009-11-02T23:09:30Z")
I know scientists don’t think so, but I have to believe that the Gulf of Mexico is the result of the Chxlblublub meteorite strike. The impact is right in the middle of a circle that overlays the coast. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micrometeors/515917/8 "2009-11-03T03:05:42Z")
Yeah, but the _big_ strike was [Theia.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_impact_hypothesis)