Editor - Robert Scott Wadsworth <> P.O. Box 5772, Oregon City, OR 97045-8272

METEORITE IMPACT

"On November 22, 1996, a meteorite struck Honduras leaving the largest impact scar (165-foot crater) recorded on our planet this century" according to the Scientific American website Ask the Experts. "The news did not get out for three weeks. But, eventually, the event was reported in British Press. Our local media did not report it at all." The comet or asteroid that flattened trees over a 770 square mile area in the Tunguska region of Siberia on June 30, 1908, exploded about 5 miles above the earth and did not leave an impact crater. It is believed that the diameter of that object was about 60 meters or 180 feet across and that the energy released was between 12 and 20 megatons (a 1 megaton explosion is equal in energy to about 50 Hiroshima type atomic bombs). If such an object were to explode over a populated area today, buildings would be flattened over an area 12 miles in radius from the center of the explosion, or a total of 24 miles in diameter.

Only about 10 percent of Near-Earth objects are now identified and tracked. These pose no threat to the earth in the foreseeable future. What about the other estimated 90 percent. There have been at least 5 near misses since 1988. In 1989 an asteroid between 0.5 and 1 kilometer in diameter passed within 5 hours of our orbit. The object was not sighted until it passed our orbit. Asteroids of this size can strike the earth with little or no warning. Another asteroid about 500 meters wide came within two-and-a-half hours of striking the earth on May 20, 1993. The earth was in the path the asteroid crossed about 2 1/2 hours before the asteroid came through. The last near miss occurred in May, 1996. If an asteroid 1 kilometer in diameter struck the earth, it would release an explosive energy equal to 100,000 megatons or about 5 million

Hiroshima bombs.

The following is a list of the estimated number of Earth-Crossing asteroids by size. The list of the number of objects by size is from data supplied by The Spaceguard Survey from NASA Ames Space Science Division. The list includes all known and estimated unknown objects. Listed are the size of the object (diameter), number of estimated objects, and explosive force in megatons of an object of that particular size if it struck the earth.

*Most objects 10 meters in size explode or disintegrate in the atmosphere and do not reach the ground. The explosive force of an asteroid is dependent on its mass and velocity on impact. Stony asteroids are less massive than iron/nickel asteroids.

Revelation 8:8, 9 (KJV) - And the second sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

This may be a large volcanic eruption or an asteroid falling from the sky into the sea. Time will tell.

Revelation 8:10, 11 (KJV) - And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from Heaven, burning as it were a lamp (torch), and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

This appears to be the likeness of a comet, though it could also be an asteroid. Again, time will tell.

Revelation 9:1, 2 (KJV) - And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

The above could be figurative, but an asteroid impact would gouge a large hole or pit in the earth, or open up a sub-surface pit and the smoke and dust would cover the earth and block out the light of the sun.

For those of you who have computers and are on the net, the Biblical Astronomy Website has been recently upgraded and now has links to other sites. One link is to the NASA website Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazards, which is very informative. The Biblical Astronomy Website address is:

http://www.atlbible.org/astronomy.htm

COMET HALE-BOPP UPDATE

The comet Hale-Bopp is now a magnitude 1 object and will most likely get much brighter at its closest approach to Earth. Conservative estimates are that the comet will be at 0 magnitude +- 0.5 by March 22. However, it may be as bright as -1.5 or -2 in magnitude (close to the brightness of Jupiter). On February 5, the comet was magnitude 2. On February 12, it had a magnitude of 1.5, and on February 20, it had a magnitude of 1.

Chart 26 shows the comet in the tip of the arrow in the constellation Sagitta (the arrow of God sent forth) on February 9, 1997. The comet's numerical designation is 1995o1. The Hebrew name for the arrow is Sham, which means destroying or desolate.

Chart 27 shows the path of Hale-Bopp from February 1, 1997 to March 1, 1997. The tick marks on the path are in one day increments. From mid to late February the comet will pass through the constellation Cygnus (The Blesser surely returning). The constellation Cygnus is also known as the Northern Cross. In early February the comet came into conjunction with the stars Tarazed (the wounded or torn) and Altair (the wounding) in the constellation Aquila. The wounded one is Jesus Christ. In mid February the comet was in conjunction with the stars in the constellation Delphenus (the dead one rising again). On February 15, the comet was in conjunction with the star Sadr (who returns as in a circle) of the constellation Cygnus. On February 20/21 the comet will be in conjunction with the star Deneb (the judge), also called Adige (flying swiftly) connected with Him who cometh to judge the earth in righteousness.

The constellations and the stars that the comet comes into conjunction with in February are testifying to the One who paid the price for our redemption through His crucifixion (the One Who was wounded and torn). Who was resurrected, seated at the right hand of God, and Who will shortly come back to judge the earth in righteousness. Halleluiah, Hallelujah!!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.