Deep Impact 2036

The term used in this article was 'likely' to hit earth.
hmmm. That's rather impressive language to use.
I wonder if it's just an eye catchy phrase to use to
get attention, or if there is more behind it?

www.todayonline.com...

Excerpt

Deep Impact in 2036?

Scientists urge action to deal with asteroid likely to hit Earth

Today ONLINE/The Guardian
Thursday • December 8, 2005

LONDON — Scientists are monitoring the progress of a 390m-wide asteroid
discovered last year that is potentially on a collision course with the planet,
and are imploring governments to decide on a strategy for dealing with it.

At a recent meeting in London of experts in near-Earth objects (NEOs),
scientists said it could take decades to design, test and build the required
technology to deflect the asteroid.

Apophis had been intermittently tracked since its discovery in June last
year but, in December, it started causing serious concern.

More at the site -
www.todayonline.com...


[edit on 12/9/2005 by FlyersFan]

Ah yes I remember this one. It was called 2004 MN4 but has since been renamed to Asteroid 99942 Apophis was origionally thought to be a near Earth orbit around 2029, This date has since been changed to 2033-2036 and the chance of the collision happening is 1-15,000 which is significant all things considering.
As late as November this year, NASA as well as other world organizations have been looking into the issue. The latest estimates is that there is nothing that we can really do until 2013 other than trying to come upo with a working plan.
Some good information sources on this asteroid can be found below:
www.space.com...
www.space.com...

www.csmonitor.com...

really way to early to start fretting, it is only a one on the torino scale

A routine discovery in which a pass near the Earth is predicted that poses no unusual level of danger. Current calculations show the chance of collision is extremely unlikely with no cause for public attention or public concern. New telescopic observations very likely will lead to re-assignment to Level 0.

maybe in about 10-20 years we can think about trying to divert the asteroid, or jsut ignore it

i wonder if everyone will still be around in 2036 considering that there is so much war going on now, its weird to think of a desert world that would get hit by an asteroid. huh....