Asteroid could hit Mars in January
Posted: Fri, Dec 21, 2007, 7:43 AM ET (1243 GMT)
Astronomers are tracking an asteroid that has a small chance of hitting the planet Mars in January. The 2007 WD5, estimated to be about 50 meters in diameter, has a 1-in-75 chance of hitting Mars on January 30, according to tracking data analyzed by JPL. If it does impact, it would likely create a crater nearly a kilometers across and generate a massive dust cloud easily visible by spacecraft in Mars orbit or even telescopes on Earth. The asteroid is currently out of view until early January, when astronomers plan to refine the asteroid's orbit and better determine its odds of hitting the planet.
Astronomers are tracking an asteroid that has a small chance of hitting the planet Mars in January. The 2007 WD5, estimated to be about 50 meters in diameter, has a 1-in-75 chance of hitting Mars on January 30, according to tracking data analyzed by JPL. If it does impact, it would likely create a crater nearly a kilometers across and generate a massive dust cloud easily visible by spacecraft in Mars orbit or even telescopes on Earth. The asteroid is currently out of view until early January, when astronomers plan to refine the asteroid's orbit and better determine its odds of hitting the planet.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, May 13
A new ‘Boost!’ for space transportation companies
ESA — 6:12 am ET (1012 GMT) Elon Musk Is Out to Rule Space. Can Anyone Stop Him?
Wired — 6:11 am ET (1011 GMT) AST SpaceMobile ‘Optimistic’ About New Glenn Pad Return
Aviation Week — 6:08 am ET (1008 GMT) AST SpaceMobile Confirms Target for 45 BlueBirds This Year, Despite Blue Origin Launch Failure
ViaSatellite — 6:06 am ET (1006 GMT) ULA to prep future Vulcan launch for Amazon despite rocket investigation
Orlando Sentinel — 6:06 am ET (1006 GMT) |
