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

[corkoman]

I say BRING IT ON. Lets take out these rogue rocks.

[NCjim]

2004 or 2014 - it will be Bush's fault in either case!

[.cnI redruM]

Just another reason to build and deploy NMD...

[AppyPappy]

That does it. I'm buying Chivas from now on.

[Cold Heat]

No doubt!

[mhking]

From Space.com:

Asteroid Given Slight Odds of Hitting Earth in 2014


A newfound asteroid has a 1-in-909,000 chance of hitting Earth in the year 2014 based on limited observations of its current path, astronomers said over the weekend. Those odds are likely to evaporate as more is learned about the object's trajectory.



In all similar cases in the past, the chances of a large rock hitting the planet have been reduced to zero when more data was collected. Meanwhile, astronomers gave asteroid 2003 QQ47 a rating of 1 on the Torino hazard scale, meaning it merits "careful monitoring." The scale runs from zero to 10 and only objects rated 8 and above -- none ever have been -- represent certain collisions.



Asteroid 2003 QQ47 is about three-quarters of a mile wide (1.2 kilometers), large enough to cause widespread regional catastrophe and even global damage were it to impact Earth. Most researchers believe large impacts in Earth's history have contributed to severe climate change and even the elimination of some plant and animal species.



The newly discovered rock is classified as a Near Earth Object (NEO). Its orbit was calculated based on 51 observations over seven days. It was discovered Aug. 24 by the Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research Program (LINEAR), in Socorro, New Mexico.



"As additional observations are made over the coming months, and the uncertainties decrease, asteroid 2003 QQ47 is likely to drop down the Torino scale," said Kevin Yates, project manager for the UK NEO Information Center.



A press release by the NEO Information Center has contributed to headlines about 2003 QQ47 in media around the world this morning. Similar scenarios in the past have fueled public concern and even fear prior to an object being determined harmless.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

And, to heck with the 15 inch limit on large mouth bass...

[So Cal Rocket]

How many of us will be on a Free Repulic ***LIVE THREAD*** when the asteroid hits?

[bert]

ping for chatastrophists

[Hatteras]

"And, to heck with the 15 inch limit on large mouth bass..."

I'm going to start checking out library books and guess what? I'm not going to return them. Never!

[AppyPappy]

And the celebration rule after touchdowns.

[stevem]

Look, this is exactly what you would expect and fits perfectly with ALL the global warming models.

[blam]

"ping for catasthropists."

We're actually a little over due for another smack.

[BSunday]

The title of the post says 2004

No it doesn't. It says 2014

[angkor]

That's it.

I've had it with these da**ed nuisance asteroids.

I'm moving to Mars.

[From The Deer Stand]

No doubt the meteor is a "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy." I just want to know what time and the location on that date in 2014 so in case I'm still here I can be elsewhere.

[irish guard]

You mean Ben Affleck will remove his face from between JLo's legs to help someone else?

[CygnusXI]

Toutatis(4179)
9-29-04.

Be there!

[70times7]

One customer who placed a bet on the world ending said that he would collect his winnings in Heaven...

reminds me of a good joke:

A very rich, and newly very dead, man begs and begs his angel to be allowed to take his wealth to heaven with him. The angel asks, and word comes down: he can bring one full suitcase. The man gleefully fills it up and away they go. As they are reaching the "pearly gates" the angel asks the man what he thought was so important to bring along. With a big smile the man opens the case and shows the angel; the suitcase is filled with gold. The angel cannot contain his laughter, and when the man askes him what is so funny and the angel replys,"you are the first person ever allowed to bring anything to heaven after death, and of all the things you could have choosen you bring street pavement!"