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Technicon 29 

Planning and Risk Mitigation Information

For Immediate Distribution 

Non-technical Summary 

Technicon 29 (T29) is expected to impact Blacksburg, VA on and around 
March 17, 2012. While several hundred people may be affected, fatalities 
are not expected significantly in excess of background risk. Despite 
reports in some popular media, this is NOT an "end of the world" event 
for 2012 (or any other year); however, we still encourage relevant 
parties to start planning now. Additional information will be posted on 
this website as it becomes available; please contact tcon29@vt.edu if 
you have futher questions. 

Details 

Unless otherwise specified, all times are Local Time (LT). At the time 
of the primary impact, LT will be US Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), with 
an offset of -4 from UTC. 

T29 is likely to be a composite object, with a high probability of 
impacting more than one location. T29-3, the main body, is the best 
constrained both in position and along-track timing; current analysis 
has it impacting within a 30 meter radius of Lat 37.230602°, Long 
-80.421816° ("Site A", McBryde Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA) 
with a better than 90% confidence, at 4pm +- 6 hours Saturday March 17, 
2012 (approximately 10am to 10pm). Further refinements to both position 
accurarcy and track timing are expected in the near future. 

There are up to five total sub-impacts proposed. T29-1, T29-3 (main 
body), and T29-5 share an estimated location ("Site A") with high 
probability; T29-2 and T29-4 are likely to share a different location 
("Site B") but the dynamics are less well constrained. Additional work 
in the near future is expected to narrow the CEP considerably. 

* T29-1 is positionally similar to the main body T29-3 (Site A, McBryde 
Hall), but ahead track and if present expected to impact the preceeding 
evening, Friday March 16, 2012, at 8pm +- 2 hours (approximately 6pm to 
10pm). 

* T29-2 is reliably timed to later in the evening on Friday March 16 but 
has a less well defined cross-track position; initial estimates are 
focusing on Lat 37.169545°, Long -80.417352° (Site B, Microtel) but the 
potential error radius is nearly 7km at the current time. 

* T29-3 is the main body discussed above (Site A, McBryde Hall, Saturday 
March 17, 10am - 10pm). 

* T29-4 is behind track compared to T29-3, later in the evening of 
Saturday March 17, and expected to be positionally similar to T29-2 
(Site B). 

* T29-5, if present, would be the following day (Sunday March 18) at 
Site A (McBryde Hall); current expert opinion is that it will be a minor 
incident of interest only to site cleanup & remediation crews. 

What should I do? 

Individual judgement will be necessary, but following are some suggested 
guidelines for early preparation for Technicon 29: 

* Research travel options to and from Blacksburg, VA around March 17, 
2012; as the event gets closer it may become more difficult to travel. 
Special lodging arrangements are in progress. 

* Insure that you are well prepared with appropriate outfits. The 
weather in Blacksburg can be unpredictable even under normal 
circumstances, and while specialized outfits are not required, some 
individuals may prefer to experience the event with them. 

* Handling an event of this magnitude requires the efforts of many; 
consider volunteering your expertise and time to help others. Contact 
tcon29@vt.edu for further details. 

* VTSFFC is actively recruiting celebrities, as they greatly increase 
the public exposure for an event of this type. If you are interested, 
please contact tcon29@vt.edu for details. 

* Stay tuned to this web site and other sources of information as the 
event grows closer. VTSFFC, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Club at 
Virginia Tech, is the primary responding authority for Technicon 29; 
other area and regional organizations are likely to become involved as 
the event grows closer. 

Fine Print: Technicon 29 is a science fiction and fantasy convention 
sponsored by VTSFFC, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Club at Virginia 
Tech. Any similarities to actual asteroid impact probabilities, other 
hazard notifications, or crazed end-of-the-world predictions are 
strictly for humorous intent. Technicon is produced in a facility that 
processes nuts.