<p>Here, have some fun with this...</p>

<p><a href="http://impact.ese.ic.ac.uk/ImpactEffects/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://impact.ese.ic.ac.uk/ImpactEffects/</a></p>

<p>It doesn't go into long term effects, but the short term is pretty devastating for a significant portion of the planet.  'Nuclear winter' effects seem inevitable for those not atomised, scorched, crushed, or covered in ejecta.</p>

<p>Not good, nope.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-18T13:05:55.943Z
unless the nucleus happens to be very low density,which is a possibility.  I'd hazard a guess that total mass is more important than raw diameter
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-18T23:04:51.260Z
Yes, GBowman, Ken Draco, and Carl Witthoft - the impact calculator website was an amazing source of variables. I tested a wide array of sizes, density of projectile and target, distance from impact, and more. you've all been a tremendous help.
Evelyn 
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-18T00:22:57.163Z
2017-09-18T00:22:57.163Z
GBowman
<p>Would a direct hit by a short-period comet with a 3 mile diameter nucleus cause enough damage on Earth to threaten or destroy human life and the ability to produce crops?</p>

<comets><impact>
Would a direct hit by a small comet be catastrophic?
Evelyn 
# Would a direct hit by a small comet be catastrophic?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-09-17)

Would a direct hit by a short-period comet with a 3 mile diameter nucleus cause enough damage on Earth to threaten or destroy human life and the ability to produce crops?

**Tags:** comets, impact

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-09-18. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Here, have some fun with this...

<http://impact.ese.ic.ac.uk/ImpactEffects/>

It doesn't go into long term effects, but the short term is pretty devastating for a significant portion of the planet. 'Nuclear winter' effects seem inevitable for those not atomised, scorched, crushed, or covered in ejecta.

Not good, nope.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: unless the nucleus happens to be very low density,which is a possibility.  I'd hazard a guess that total mass is more important than raw diameter  
> **username_0**: Yes, GBowman, Ken Draco, and Carl Witthoft - the impact calculator website was an amazing source of variables. I tested a wide array of sizes, density of projectile and target, distance from impact, and more. you've all been a tremendous help.  

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