Asteroid may hit Planet Earth on March 21, 2014.

SkyNews ^ | 09/02/03 | Staff Writer

[bedolido]

Scientists monitoring an asteroid have warned it could collide with Earth in just over a decade.

The newly discovered asteroid, known as 2003 QQ47, is around two-thirds of a mile wide and has been classified as "an event meriting careful monitoring" by astronomers.

It is around one tenth fo the size of the meteor that is thought to have wiped out dinosaurs on Earth 65 million years ago.

In the event of it hitting the Earth, the rock would have the force of 350,000 mega tonnes - around eight million times more powerful than the bomb dropped at Hiroshima at the end of the Second World War.

On impact it would be travelling at 75,000 miles a hour.

Experts say the giant rock, which was first spotted by Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research Program (Linear) in New Mexico, could impact on Earth on March 21, 2014.

But they say the probability of the asteroid hitting Earth is just one in 909,000 and the risk of impact is likely to decrease as they collect more information.

With a mass of around 2,600 million tons, it has been given a "Torino hazard rating" of one. Scientists said it is likely to drop down the Torino hazard scale as more observations are made.

Its orbit calculations are currently based on just 51 observations during a seven-day period.

Dr Alan Fitzsimmons of Queen's University, Belfast, one of the expert team advising the UK Near Earth Objects Information Centre, based in Leicester, said: "The NEO will be observable from Earth for the next two months, and astronomers will continue to track it over this period."

He added that there is no cause for concern over the asteroid.

Asteroids such as 2003 QQ47 are chunks of rock left over from the formation of our solar system 4.5 billion years ago.

Most are kept at a safe distance from Earth in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

But the gravitational influence of giant planets such as Jupiter can nudge asteroids out of these safe orbits and send them plunging into the Earth's neighbourhood.

Last Updated: 14:07 UK, Tuesday September 02, 2003

[herkbird]

Paradise PFA, a few years ago when they had very strict fishing in the trophy pond. When they redid the main lake they opened the pressure on the trophy lake and kind of ruined it for awhile. People were fishing with live bait and breaking many of the regulations.

The big lake is now open after being stocked with no fishing for five years. looking forward to going fishing down there again after the five years. I hope they refurbish the tropy pond and go back to the heavy restrictions. Where in Dodge County is the good fishing?

[aShepard]

....."could impact on Earth on March 21, 2014...."

Hah! That'll be during Hillary's second term.
?? What did she know, and when did she know it??

[Hotdog]

This can't be...I'm suppose to retire in 2015!!!

[Hotdog]

This can't be...I'm suppose to retire in 2015!!!

[The Iguana]

New York Times subheadline: "Women, minorities to be hardest hit."

[dfwgator]

So tonight I'm gonna party like it's 2013.

[herkbird]

No Eric, these are monster Georgia largemouth Bass. If you didn't know it, the State of Georgia holds the record for the largest large mouth bass at 24 pounds, 3 ounces. This record has stood for over 60 years, which is truly amazing. With all the Bass fishing tournaments over the years, you would think it would have been broken by now.

[rdl6989]

The Maya calculations were off by two years.

[Larry Lucido]

it has been given a "Torino hazard rating" of one.

Let me know when it is given an "Pinto hazard rating" of one.

[Brucifer]

Thank goodness! Now I don’t have to worry about all that pesky saving for retirement.

Although, it does appear that I'm about to come into a lot of money from a recently deceased Nigerian relative whom I have never heard of before.

[Boiling Pots]

Phew!

Saved from almost 2 yrs of the Messiah.

[Gator113]

I’ve seen the movie... don’t worry, it all turns out ok.

[Cacique]

Why is this article from 1903 being bumped up now?

[whatshotandwhatsnot]

Can I run up all my credit cards, then?

One less thing for me to worry about. At 75,000 miles an hour I doubt we’ll feel much pain.

[Bokababe]

Apocalypse Not: 'Killer Asteroid' Will Pass Us By

Sept. 3, 2003 — The Earth is not quite so doomed, experts said Wednesday.

Fears that a giant asteroid could whack into the planet on March 21, 2014 and plunge it into a nuclear winter are misplaced, they said, explaining that fresh calculations showed the monster rock would safely pass us by.....

Discovery Channel from 5 years ago.

[SkyPilot]

Asteroid may hit Planet Earth on March 21, 2014............... Scientists monitoring an asteroid have warned it could collide with Earth in just over a decade.

Ummm...........can someone at Sky News use this?

[Right Winged American]

It says that were it to hit the earth it would be traveling at over 75,000 mph. I don't buy it. The asteroid in the movie 'Deep Impact' was traveling much slower than that.

That's a bit more than 20 miles-per-second, which seems high. I think asteroids usually hit us at about 15 to 17 mps. Maybe this one's orbit is a bit more hyperbolic?

[Publius6961]

The newly discovered asteroid, known as 2003 QQ47

Newly dicovered?
From 2003?

Sounds like 7 years+ discovery to me.

Of course, if they're talking geologic time...

... never mind...

[Publius6961]

Not funny.
Even Arnold what's his name couldn't manage the feat, dead or alive.

That's 2970 punds for a small 30-incher.

Just saying.

[Publius6961]

The asteroid in the movie 'Deep Impact' was traveling much slower than that.

You get your science facts from movies??
'Fess up.
You voted for Obama, didn't you.