Mars impact all but ruled out
Posted: Thu, Jan 10, 2008, 8:09 AM ET (1309 GMT)
New observations of an asteroid have effectively eliminated any chance that the object will collide with Mars at the end of the month, JPL scientists said late Wednesday. New calculations give an only 1-in-10,000 chance that asteroid 2007 WD5 will collide with Mars on January 30, thanks to new observations of the small asteroid that allowed astronomers to refine the asteroid's orbit. Last month, the asteroid has as great as a four-percent chance of an impact, based on the limited observations of the asteroid at that point. Researchers with JPL's Near-Earth Object Program Office now believe the asteroid will pass about 26,000 kilometers from Mars on the 30th.
New observations of an asteroid have effectively eliminated any chance that the object will collide with Mars at the end of the month, JPL scientists said late Wednesday. New calculations give an only 1-in-10,000 chance that asteroid 2007 WD5 will collide with Mars on January 30, thanks to new observations of the small asteroid that allowed astronomers to refine the asteroid's orbit. Last month, the asteroid has as great as a four-percent chance of an impact, based on the limited observations of the asteroid at that point. Researchers with JPL's Near-Earth Object Program Office now believe the asteroid will pass about 26,000 kilometers from Mars on the 30th.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, January 29
Crew-12, scheduled to launch on Wednesday 11 February
ESA — 6:42 am ET (1142 GMT) SpaceX now wants to alter BEAD performance requirements
FierceWireless — 6:42 am ET (1142 GMT) EU can't replace Musk's Starlink yet, but is on right track, Kubilius tells Euronews
EuroNews — 6:40 am ET (1140 GMT) A life and death market: Starlink smuggling to Iran surges
Jerusalem Post — 6:40 am ET (1140 GMT) Russia Using Starlink-Equipped Attack Drones For Precision Strikes
Aviation Week — 6:40 am ET (1140 GMT) |
