Large asteroid heading to Earth? Pray, says Nasa.
Nasa has found and is tracking about 95% of the largest objects flying near Earth, those that are 1km or larger in diameter.
“An asteroid of that size, a kilometer or bigger, could plausibly end civilization,” White House science adviser John Holdren told legislators at the same hearing.
But only about 10% of an estimated 10,000 potential “city-killer” asteroids, those with a diameter of about 165 feet have been found, Holdren added.
On average, objects of that size are estimated to hit Earth about once every 1,000 years.
“From the information we have, we don’t know of an asteroid that will threaten the population of the United States,” Bolden said. “But if it’s coming in three weeks, pray.”
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/Hot...says-Nasa.html
Nasa has found and is tracking about 95% of the largest objects flying near Earth, those that are 1km or larger in diameter.
“An asteroid of that size, a kilometer or bigger, could plausibly end civilization,” White House science adviser John Holdren told legislators at the same hearing.
But only about 10% of an estimated 10,000 potential “city-killer” asteroids, those with a diameter of about 165 feet have been found, Holdren added.
On average, objects of that size are estimated to hit Earth about once every 1,000 years.
“From the information we have, we don’t know of an asteroid that will threaten the population of the United States,” Bolden said. “But if it’s coming in three weeks, pray.”
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/Hot...says-Nasa.html
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