Will An Asteroid Hit The Earth?

Astronomers said on July 29 they have determined that a newly discovered, two-kilometer wide asteroid will miss the Earth in 2019. A week before then, it was reported that according to preliminary calculations of the orbital path traveled by asteroid 2002 NT7, the space rock had about a 1-in-250,000 chance of plowing into the Earth on February 1, 2019. Such an impact would cause devastation on a continental scale.

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Follow-up observations showed the asteroid and the Earth won't meet -- at least for now, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Astronomers initially calculated at least seven potential impact dates beginning in 2019. Only one -- February 1, 2060 -- has yet to be ruled out, but astronomers expect to dismiss that threat as well after more observations of the asteroid are made. Click here for diagram.

Khorsheed.com - August 2002