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Earth set for close asteroid encounter
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]A strike would have global implications[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]By BBC News Online Science Editor Dr David Whitehouse
Astronomers have discovered a mile-wide asteroid that could collide with the Earth in 40 years time.
If it did, the devastation would be continent-wide, with massive global effects for decades. Hundreds of millions of people would die and many animal species would be wiped out.
The object is called asteroid 1999 AN10 and it was discovered on 13 January. It was picked up by the Linear telescopic survey that scans the sky for so-called Neo's - Near Earth Objects.
1999 AN10 circles the Sun every 643 days and twice each year the Earth comes close to the giant rock.
From almost a hundred observations made of it since its discovery, astronomers have determined its orbit. Close approaches to Earth occur in 2027, but no impacts are possible then according to Andrea Milani and Steven Chesley of the University of Pisa.
But 2039 is a different matter.
Close monitoring
In calculating the orbit for 1999 AN10, the Italian astronomers say that for August 2039 "a collision solution actually exists."
It is important to note that this is different from a definite prediction of a collision.
In fact, from what is known at the moment, the probability of 1999 AN10 striking the Earth must be less than the probability of being hit by an undiscovered asteroid on a given day.
Nonetheless, now that the asteroid has been found, its orbit is attracting attention. The Italian astronomers say it will have to be monitored closely. They add that it is conceivable that at some time in the future a decision could be made to deflect or destroy it just like in the movie Armageddon.
This one is for sale now
Dabsi
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]A strike would have global implications[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]By BBC News Online Science Editor Dr David Whitehouse
Astronomers have discovered a mile-wide asteroid that could collide with the Earth in 40 years time.
If it did, the devastation would be continent-wide, with massive global effects for decades. Hundreds of millions of people would die and many animal species would be wiped out.
The object is called asteroid 1999 AN10 and it was discovered on 13 January. It was picked up by the Linear telescopic survey that scans the sky for so-called Neo's - Near Earth Objects.
1999 AN10 circles the Sun every 643 days and twice each year the Earth comes close to the giant rock.
From almost a hundred observations made of it since its discovery, astronomers have determined its orbit. Close approaches to Earth occur in 2027, but no impacts are possible then according to Andrea Milani and Steven Chesley of the University of Pisa.
But 2039 is a different matter.
Close monitoring
In calculating the orbit for 1999 AN10, the Italian astronomers say that for August 2039 "a collision solution actually exists."
It is important to note that this is different from a definite prediction of a collision.
In fact, from what is known at the moment, the probability of 1999 AN10 striking the Earth must be less than the probability of being hit by an undiscovered asteroid on a given day.
Nonetheless, now that the asteroid has been found, its orbit is attracting attention. The Italian astronomers say it will have to be monitored closely. They add that it is conceivable that at some time in the future a decision could be made to deflect or destroy it just like in the movie Armageddon.
This one is for sale now
Dabsi
[/FONT]
