Final answer:
An asteroid not hitting Eastern Kentucky could still cause damage through tsunamis, earthquakes, debris, electromagnetic interference, and atmospheric disturbances. The issue of building weapons to defend against such impacts is contentious due to ethical concerns and the history of weapon use. Methods to deflect asteroids include kinetic impactors and nuclear blasts, each with their own risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
An asteroid on a collision course with Earth, even if not set for a direct hit with Eastern Kentucky, could potentially endanger communities through various secondary effects. Tsunamis and earthquakes could result from an oceanic or terrestrial impact, respectively. Wide areas could be affected by asteroid debris which could lead to fires and damage from high-speed impacts. Electromagnetic interference may occur if the asteroid impact causes a burst of electromagnetic energy, disrupting electronics and communication systems. Finally, atmospheric disturbances can be caused by the energy released during entry and impact, which could lead to changes in weather patterns or even climate over the short term.
The history of human behavior in the development and use of weaponry should also be a consideration when discussing the construction of weapons to defend against asteroid or comet impact. Balancing the potential defensive benefits against the risks and ethical concerns of weaponizing space is a complex issue. While the orbits of Earth-approaching asteroids are currently predictable, they are also unstable over long time spans, increasing the likelihood of an eventual collision with Earth if they are not detected and deflected early enough.
Different methods for preventing an asteroid collision include kinetic impactors, where a spacecraft crashes into the asteroid, or the controlled use of nuclear blasts to alter the asteroid's trajectory. These methods, while technologically feasible, come with their own sets of pros and cons and must be carefully planned to avoid the possibility of fragmenting the asteroid or causing other unintended consequences.
Historic impacts, such as the Tunguska event in Siberia, show the real threat posed by interplanetary debris, highlighting the importance of having a strategy in place for defending the Earth against potential asteroid impacts.