Belair
12-28-2004, 01:38 AM
Asteroid Could Hit Earth
Dec 23, 2004 5:03 pm US/Eastern
LOS ANGELES (AP) Scientists say you shouldn't worry, but there's a small chance that an asteroid could hit Earth 25 years from now.
The asteroid is about the length of four football fields, and has just received a rating of "two" on a ten-point scale that predicts impact.
Until now, no asteroid has received a rating higher than one.
But scientists stress that more data could easily downgrade that rating. Overall, they say it's unlikely that the asteroid could hit.
If it does crash into Earth, though, the impact would be serious -- potentially creating a Tsunami in the ocean or heavy damage on the ground.
But, again scientists say the mathematical chances it will hit are small. One says the odds are 300-to-one against it.
The superstitious may find reason to fear. If the asteroid hits, it would be on April 13th, 2029. That would be a Friday, the Thirteenth.
Dec 23, 2004 5:03 pm US/Eastern
LOS ANGELES (AP) Scientists say you shouldn't worry, but there's a small chance that an asteroid could hit Earth 25 years from now.
The asteroid is about the length of four football fields, and has just received a rating of "two" on a ten-point scale that predicts impact.
Until now, no asteroid has received a rating higher than one.
But scientists stress that more data could easily downgrade that rating. Overall, they say it's unlikely that the asteroid could hit.
If it does crash into Earth, though, the impact would be serious -- potentially creating a Tsunami in the ocean or heavy damage on the ground.
But, again scientists say the mathematical chances it will hit are small. One says the odds are 300-to-one against it.
The superstitious may find reason to fear. If the asteroid hits, it would be on April 13th, 2029. That would be a Friday, the Thirteenth.