[geeks] Mr Bill?

[Shannon Hendrix]

On Sep 18, 2008, at 23:55 , der Mouse wrote:

> Not very.  The mean density of matter in the galaxy is thin enough  
> that
> here on Earth we'd call it a pretty hard vacuum.

It's a big galaxy.  It doesn't matter how dense the galaxy is, there  
are still a lot of them.

Our own solar system has a lot and our various moons show vivid proof  
of just how many big ones have hit.

>> Plus, we have records of various bodies being totally obliterated,
>
> We do?  I'd like to hear more - this is the first I've heard of any
> such.

Several probes have taken pictures of very thoroughly shattered moons,  
some quite large.

At least a few appear to have been broken apart and fell back  
together, or were split by the impacts.

I'd say that would hurt us pretty bad.

It can certainly happen.

I'm not saying it is likely, just that it can.

Besides, even a small asteroid can send us on a serious and  
demoralizing detour without doing that much damage to the planet itself.



-- 
Shannon Hendrix
shannon at widomaker.com