There’s a giant, peanut-shaped object orbiting the Sun, and it’s name is Halley’s comet. Like all comets, it’s a cosmic mashup of frozen ice, gases, and dust. Stretching a vast 15 kilometres by 8 kilometres (9 miles by 5 miles), this space snowball streaks by Earth every 76 years and has been circling for 16,000 years. It hasn’t caused us any trouble yet, but that would change if its elliptical return crosses paths with our Moon, causing a devastating collision visible in broad daylight. Would it affect space exploration? How much damage would it do to the Moon? What would happen on Earth?
Transcript and sources:
Subscribe to our second channel called “How to Survive”:
Can you translate this episode into another language? Add subtitles and we will link your YouTube channel in the description:
Watch more what-if scenarios:
Planet Earth:
The Cosmos:
Technology:
Your Body:
Humanity:
T-shirts and merch:
Suggest an episode:
Newsletter:
Feedback and inquiries:
What If elsewhere:
Instagram:
Twitter:
Facebook:
What If in Spanish:
What If in Mandarin:
Podcast:
What If is a mini-documentary web series that takes you on an epic journey through hypothetical worlds and possibilities. Join us on an imaginary adventure through time, space and chance while we (hopefully) boil down complex subjects in a fun and entertaining way.
Produced with love by Underknown in Toronto: