Author: Guy Micholic
UR36 sped past the earth Sunday evening at an approximate distance of 300,000 miles, with several Near Earth Objects traveling in its wake. With 0 percent chance of this one making contact with the “blue planet” there is no immediate reason for concern. The real news here is the successful real time testing of the new EWS, which has been dubbed with the name Scout.
Scout is a computer program that continuously scans data being collected by observatories from around the world, in search of asteroids. Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena California is the home of this new technology designed to assess threat level of any Near Earth Object. The theory is that once an object has been detected, having data from multiple perspectives will speed up the process of determining the threat level, thereby increasing reaction time.
UR36 was first detected by Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (PAN-STARRS) located in Maui, Hawaii on the 25th of October. Scout was made aware and within 10 minutes was able to calculate the most likely flight paths and coordinate with several observatories, determining the asteroids closest distance from earth (310,000 miles) and size (5 to 25 meters).
Though Scout is still in test phase, it impressively displayed itself as a viable Early Warning System it’s first time out. With that being said, It is of little consolation to me. According to Scripture a huge rock is going to strike this planet at some point and no man made device, no matter how advanced the technology, will be able to protect us from impact.
Luke 21:
[25] And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
[26] Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
[27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
[28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Hebrews 12
[25] See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
[26] Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
[27] And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Revelation 6:
[12] And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
[13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
[14] And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
I will close out this article with my personal thought on the matter. There is no better “Early Warning System” than the infallible Word of God.
