NASA, ESA Detect Asteroid With 'Non-Zero' Probability Of Hitting Earth This Year

International Business Times ^ | 12 Jun, 2020 | Inigo Monzon

[MtnClimber]

NASA and the European Space Agency are monitoring an asteroid that has a "non-zero" probability of colliding with Earth later this year. Based on the data collected by the two agencies, the asteroid is not in danger of causing an impact event due to its small size.

The approaching asteroid has been identified as 2018 VP1. This asteroid is currently listed in NASA’s Sentry and the ESA’s Risk List, which are the agencies’ respective asteroid impact monitoring systems.

As noted by the agencies, all asteroids listed in Sentry and the Risk List have chances of colliding with Earth in the future. In the case of 2018 VP1, NASA detected three potential impacts the asteroid could cause.

According to the data gathered by both the ESA and NASA, 2018 VP1’s first potential impact could happen on Nov. 2 this year. The agencies noted that if the asteroid ends up colliding with Earth later this year, it will do so at a speed of over 32,000 miles per hour.

The ESA noted that the asteroid’s chances of hitting Earth in November are one in 193. These odds are based on the asteroid’s current trajectory. According to NASA, 2018 VP1 is an Apollo asteroid, which means it follows an Earth-crossing orbit.

[MtnClimber]

Solar eruptions or other variations in solar weather could alter the path slightly.

[FreeperCell]

Oh Noooooes !!!

[chiller]

Tiny. 7 feet. soon to be toast

[dsrtsage]

Perhaps it will take out San FranFelcho

[Beowulf9]

‘Non-zero’. Isn’t that a double negative?

[ZOOKER]

In Before The

MEME

[Beowulf9]

Double negative written by the International Business Times. ‘Business’. You would think THEY would know the value of zero.

Sheesh.

[Pocketdoor]

Close and small enough to fly up and capture.... Would be worth trillions.

[mosesdapoet]

Be great if a picture of it were made and posted and a monitor planted on it while doing so

[coaster123]

No.

[tinyowl]

I heard this asteroid is made of Covidite. Keep yer masks on.

[dsc]

“Would be worth trillions.”

Why?

[absalom01]

Very cool JPL site is linked at the source.

https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2018%20VP1;old=0;orb=1;cov=0;log=0;cad=0#elem

[Yo-Yo]

Would cause the collapse of the metals market, mining stocks, and heavy equipment manufacturers. Not to mention the hundreds of billions it would take to wrangle her snd decelerate her into Earth orbit.

[null and void]

Close and small enough to fly up and capture.... Would be worth trillions.

[IndispensableDestiny]

Would cause the collapse of the metals market, mining stocks, and heavy equipment manufacturers.

Uh, huh. If it were a sphere and made of pure nickel, its value would be around $550,000.

[Rummyfan]

I hope it hits Chicago. Or Portland.

[wastedyears]

[wastedyears]

Call up Elon, he might have a plan.