If you woke up well today, all warm and snuggly under your quilt, or your SO if you are that way inclined, have a look at this Website.
Finally the red boxes mark the location of the Apollo and Aten asteroids. These cross the Earth’s orbit and are the most directly identifiable astronomical threat for the near future. Included in this selection is the infamous asteroid, 1997XF11, which made a major impact on the world’s headlines in March 1997 when observations indicated that it had a good chance of colliding with the Earth in 2028. Thankfully, new observations were made and the newly calculated orbit predicts a close approach of about 600,000 kilometres. Other asteroids which have orbits which may hit the Earth are 1999 AN 10 and 1998 OX 4. Further observation is required to determine their orbits in sufficient detail to predict an impact or a near miss.
It is estimated that there are perhaps 100,000 to 1,000,000 undiscovered asteroids on similar Earth crossing orbits.
Feeling those cold icy fingers of the reality of impending doom? Thought so. Earth has survived three ‘global killer’ strikes so far in its history, one of which famously wiped out the dinosaurs. It’s going to happen again sometime; we just don’t know when. Can we set up some kind of protection system now please? We could easily do it and have spare change if we all just stop spending money on weapons to kill each other for just two years.
No? Oh well, just me having silly thoughts again.
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