Nasa tracks cataclysmic asteroid

Let's just hope the percentages continue to over time, a massive collision is the last thing the world needs at this point in time. I don't think it needs a massive collision at any time. One day one of these things will be on a collision course with the Earth. We should be learning all we can about asteroids and comets and developing the technology to deflect them.

2. The moon would be in the way. But hat would be verrry unlikely. And besides, at least it's not big enough to destory the entire planet. Considering the relative size and distance of the moon, like you said, very unlikely. 1 in 24,000- Not great odds.

1 in 24,000- Not great odds. A lot better than 1 in 6250. It is likely to get better as the orbit is further refined with more observations.

Not to worry! The U.S.A. has Secret Weapons of Mass Destruction and with the Reversed Alien Technology will save the World and Mankind as we Know it! Or not as the case may be. By 2036 I intend to be nothing but a pleasant memory in any case!

Most likely the asteroid will miss...

I don't think it needs a massive collision at any time. One day one of these things will be on a collision course with the Earth. We should be learning all we can about asteroids and comets and developing the technology to deflect them. Agreed, its not a question of if something is going to hit, its a question of when.

I see the angle this is coming from, but the report mentions that Earth is hit every 1000 years by an object this size. We have pretty good records from 1000ad onwards, so where is the evidence that this has happened every thousand years? Not saying it hasn't, but would like direction to check the claim out. Any ideas?

Dang, that thing could ruin my birthday (April 13th), now how did they pick THAT date ?

I see the angle this is coming from, but the report mentions that Earth is hit every 1000 years by an object this size. We have pretty good records from 1000ad onwards, so where is the evidence that this has happened every thousand years? Not saying it hasn't, but would like direction to check the claim out. Any ideas? Firstly this figure is a statistical average. Earth could go five thousand years without such an impact and then have 5 in a decade, so there is no guarantee that an object this size has hit the Earth since 1000 AD. Secondly planet Earth is just over 70% ocean, so on average onl... [More]

Dang, that thing could ruin my birthday (April 13th), now how did they pick THAT date ? No one picked that date, the asteroid picked that date. I shouldn't worry too much about your birthday, the chances of Apophis hitting the Earth now stand at only 1:38,000 Source: NASA/JPL - NEO Project- Apophis