this post was submitted on 04 Oct 2023
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While the asteroid is traveling too far to pose any risk to the Earth, a possible impact event with it could become a worldwide catastrophe.

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[–] Protoknuckles@lemmy.world 162 points 9 months ago (9 children)

American really will use any measurement except metric

[–] ptz@dubvee.org 40 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (4 children)

If you regularly use metric in the US, you're either an aerospace engineer or a drug dealer. lol

Edit: Thank you everyone who ackshually'd my obvious joke. I'm aware metric is more widely used that that.

[–] PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee 26 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Or the military, they use it a ton

[–] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 23 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Or the military, they use it ~~a ton~~ 907kg.

[–] PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee 11 points 9 months ago (3 children)

The ton is a metric unit too isn't it?

[–] GopherOwl@lemmy.world 16 points 9 months ago (3 children)

A metric ton is 1000 kg. Source: Aerospace Military Industrial Complex drug dealer.

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[–] Chainweasel@lemmy.world 12 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The fastest way to find out is to ask how many grams are in an ounce.

28.8? Engineer

28? Dealer

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[–] Bytemeister@lemmy.world 22 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I'd switch, but I've been on the Capy system my whole life, and it's just much more intuitive for me. Everyone knows how long a Capybara is. How fucking long a meter is? Beats the fuck out of me, maybe a half cap?

[–] unoriginalsin@lemmy.world 13 points 9 months ago (4 children)

And we'll misapply it as well. The asteroid isn't the size of 1000 capybaras, it's as wide as 1000 capybaras lined up. Assuming it's roughly spherical, it's actually closer to the size of 524,000,000 capybaras.

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[–] Chainweasel@lemmy.world 13 points 9 months ago

It really was a disservice to my generation and after (late 30s) that they gave up on it.

[–] Neto@lemmy.world 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Is 1,000 capybaras equal to 10,000 guinea pigs or is it 99,729.372456 guinea pigs? I'm bad at conversions.

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[–] HurlingDurling@lemm.ee 5 points 9 months ago

If it were an American measurement it would be made in Hamberders

[–] TransplantedSconie@lemm.ee 5 points 9 months ago

You may deny it, but capybara measurement is peak measurement.

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[–] YeetPics@mander.xyz 74 points 9 months ago (3 children)
[–] Kefass@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago

Real science

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[–] echodot@feddit.uk 61 points 9 months ago (6 children)

Use measurement units damnit

[–] Airazz@lemmy.world 16 points 9 months ago (1 children)

This is a measurement unit. A bit unconventional, but it's not any worse than using three grains of barley, dry and round, placed end to end lengthwise, or the length of King Henry I's foot.

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[–] MeanEYE@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago

This one actually gave me a nice laugh. They are clearly taking a piss at unconventional units of measurement.

[–] oatscoop@midwest.social 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Here's a better article.

The first asteroid, named 349507 (2008 QY), is a colossal mass that is equivalent in size to a bridge.

[–] OccamsTeapot@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago

1 bridge = 1000 capybaras, you heard it here first

[–] OrangeJoe@lemm.ee 6 points 9 months ago

My friends and I use golden retrievers as a unit of measurement, would that have been better?

[–] OrteilGenou@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago

I just had a huge breakfast. Easily one third of a capybara

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[–] halfempty@kbin.social 43 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yup. first time I have seen capybaras used as a unit of measurement.

[–] SatansMaggotyCumFart@lemmy.world 25 points 9 months ago (1 children)

My ex had titties the size of capybaras but it was mostly because she had the physique of a manatee.

[–] robocall@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago

she was truly the sea cow of the land

[–] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 25 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Remember to get out and vote!

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[–] stopthatgirl7@kbin.social 25 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Anyone downvoting this is boring and doesn’t understand the fun of capybara math 🤣

[–] Custoslibera@lemmy.world 12 points 9 months ago

‘Americans will literally use any other form of measurement other than metric’

[–] hperrin@lemmy.world 24 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Me, a normal human being: ah yes, one thousand capybaras large, I know exactly its size now.

Y’all are weird not knowing this measurement system. Makes as much sense as miles and inches.

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[–] robocall@lemmy.world 23 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

Would you rather see 1 astroid size capybara or 1000 capybara sized astroids?

[–] Unaware7013@kbin.social 5 points 9 months ago

That's easy, the capybara sized asteroids. The only ones who have to care are in space.

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[–] Hedup@lemm.ee 23 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

I don't think they know how volume calculations work. When I read 1000 Capybaras, I though "huh, that's not actually that big", until they say it's actually the diameter or that much capybaras.

EDIT: I did some pocket calculations and it seems like 1000 capybaras can fit into an around 13 capybara diameter sphere.

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[–] deconstruct@lemm.ee 23 points 9 months ago (2 children)

1.2 km long, for anyone wondering.

[–] pennomi@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Which is why it’s silly to represent the size of the asteroid in capybara lengths. We should be representing it in capybara volumes or masses. Probably be something more like 1 billion capybaras.

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[–] itsonlygeorge@reddthat.com 21 points 9 months ago (3 children)

I only accept measurements in washing machines and football fields.

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[–] The_Eminent_Bon@lemmy.world 20 points 9 months ago (2 children)

How big is it in beans pray tell

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[–] at_an_angle@lemmy.one 20 points 9 months ago (1 children)

One capybara weighs on average 108lbs or about 16.5 AR-15s fully loaded.

So the asteroid weighs roughly as much as 422,559 AR-15s with a loaded 20 rd magazine. (Warning my math is bad as I'm American.)

[–] ryathal@sh.itjust.works 7 points 9 months ago (3 children)

It looks like they are using the length of a capybara, which is just over a meter not the weight. So it's 1,446 ar15s in diameter.

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[–] poprocks@lemmy.world 14 points 9 months ago (1 children)

But how many bananas is that?

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[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 11 points 9 months ago (2 children)

The Jerusalem Post keeps posting articles comparing asteroids to random things and I love it.

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[–] woobie@lemmy.world 10 points 9 months ago

We really need a bot to translate these oddball units of mass into Volkswagen Beetles like the good Lord intended. Embrace standards, ffs.

[–] edgemaster72@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

How many bananas or Toyota Corollas is that?

[–] J12@lemmy.world 10 points 9 months ago (1 children)

12 corollas

15 billion bananas

Source: im a math doctor

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i love this measurement. it belies the articles importance

[–] Destraight@lemm.ee 5 points 9 months ago

The capybara puns in this news article are terrible. This article was not worth the read, but since Soo many people in here are complaining about the capybara measurement I shall give you the exact measurement which is 1.2 kilometers wide

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