Asteroid poses little threat to Earth
Posted: Thu, Jul 25, 2002, 8:05 AM ET (1205 GMT)
A recently-discovered asteroid has only a very slim chance of colliding with the Earth in 2019, despite sensationalistic stories to the contrary. Astronomers reported this week that asteroid, 2002 NT7, has a chance of colliding with the Earth on February 1, 2019. However, those odds are quite long: anywhere from 60,000-to-1 to 250,000-to-1, according to recent reports. The asteroid, estimated to be up to two kilometers across, rates a one on the Torino Scale, which means it warrants further observations but does not yet pose a significant impact risk. The asteroid did briefly rise above 0 on the Palermo Scale, a separate measure of impact risk, the first asteroid to do so. "While this prediction is of scientific interest, the probability of impact is not large enough to warrant public concern," a statement on JPL's NEO web site noted. Nonetheless, concerns about any possible impact were fanned by several articles published Wednesday that claimed that the asteroid was "on [a] collision course" with the Earth.
A recently-discovered asteroid has only a very slim chance of colliding with the Earth in 2019, despite sensationalistic stories to the contrary. Astronomers reported this week that asteroid, 2002 NT7, has a chance of colliding with the Earth on February 1, 2019. However, those odds are quite long: anywhere from 60,000-to-1 to 250,000-to-1, according to recent reports. The asteroid, estimated to be up to two kilometers across, rates a one on the Torino Scale, which means it warrants further observations but does not yet pose a significant impact risk. The asteroid did briefly rise above 0 on the Palermo Scale, a separate measure of impact risk, the first asteroid to do so. "While this prediction is of scientific interest, the probability of impact is not large enough to warrant public concern," a statement on JPL's NEO web site noted. Nonetheless, concerns about any possible impact were fanned by several articles published Wednesday that claimed that the asteroid was "on [a] collision course" with the Earth.
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Monday, January 5
Overview of ESA communication activities in 2009 relevant to the media
ESA — 12:35 pm ET (1735 GMT) ESA Director General to meet the press in Paris
ESA — 12:35 pm ET (1735 GMT) Astronaut to speak at Women in Aviation conference
Dayton (OH) Daily News — 12:31 pm ET (1731 GMT) Lessons from disaster: Our Opinion: Adopting strict safety rules at NASA can save lives
Miami Herald — 12:29 pm ET (1729 GMT) It will benefit mankind
The Times of India — 12:28 pm ET (1728 GMT) |