2005 yu55: latest threat or more crying wolf?

Is Asteroid 2005 YU55 just another hysterical outburst by alarmists who never rest from 'crying wolf'? We can be reminded of the purpose of such repeated alarm bells by revisiting Aesop's Fable, The Boy Who Cried Wolf? The Wikipedia entry reports Samuel Croxall, author of "The Fables of Aesop", once observed, "'when we are alarmed with imaginary dangers in respect of the public, till the cry grows quite stale and threadbare, how can it be expected we should know when to guard ourselves against real ones?" This is something to keep in mind when repeated efforts seem to desensitize any and all dangers, a real danger may be among all the apparent hysteria!

Bad Astronomy dismisses Asteroid YU55 and compares it to similar hype of Asteroid 2007 TU24. Does anyone remember Asteroid 2007 TU24? Physicist Michio Kaku believes on Friday 13th, 2036, Apophis will be "Our First Real Threat From A Giant Asteroid". 99942 Apophis covered in previous post here, reminds us threat of near Earth objects, may be little more than excuse for weaponizing space.

The present writer wonders about unusual test on November 9 of the FEMA emergency broadcast system? This coincides on same date with Exercise Pacific Wave reported by the Intel Hub, a tsunami preparedness drill. A You Tube video "Tsunami Forecast 11-9-2011 (Asteroid?)" reminds viewer Earth will on same date pass through tail of C/2010 X1 AKA Comet Elenin. Are we reading too much into it or is worn threadbare staleness the goal of sounding too many alarms?

asteroid 2005 yu55: how big is huge asteroid?

Near Earth Object Asteroid 2005 YU55 will pass within moon's orbit on Nov 8th at a distance no closer than 203,000 miles from Earth. An animation of the close flyby is available here. A Space.com article, "Huge Asteroid to Pass Near Earth in November," terms the quarter mile diameter asteroid as huge and on the potentially dangerous list. There will be radar studies done by Arecibo and Goldstone Observatories of this unusual opportunity. How close will the asteroid be to the Moon? The only source providing a distance here, says, 149,000 miles. You will still need a telescope to view it late on Nov 8th or early Nov 9th.