Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

December 2, 2008 11:35:36 AM CST

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Asteroid On Path to Smash Mars

Posted Dec 20, 07 8:17 PM CST in Science & Health 

(Newser) – A big asteroid has a decent chance of blasting into Mars next month with potentially devastating consequences for the Red Planet, the LA Times reports. Back on earth, meanwhile, astronomers say that being able to watch an asteroid impact for the first time would be a "scientific bonanza." The potential date is Jan. 30.

The asteroid is about 160 feet across, similar to one that crashed into Siberia in 1908 and flattened 80 million trees. The thin atmosphere of Mars would make this one even more violent, making plumes of dust visible through telescopes here. The asteroid has a 1-in-75 chance of hitting. "We're used to dealing with odds like one-in-a-million," said one astronomer. This "makes us sit up straight in our chairs."

Source Los Angeles Times

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Asteroids Could Reseed a Devastated Earth

    May 18, 08 3:13 PM CDT
    Asteroids Could Reseed a Devastated Earth If a comet ever obliterates life on Earth, don't worry—space rocks could later fall in and reseed a few basic life forms. A new study shows that organisms can survive being hit by a meteor, ejected into space, and hurtled back to Earth on the face of a rock—which is good news should we ever go the way of the dinosaurs, Astrobiology reports. More »

  • Asteroid to Whiz Past Earth

    Jan 25, 08 9:49 AM CST
    Asteroid to Whiz Past Earth A big asteroid is set to speed past Earth on Tuesday night, and those with amateur telescopes will get a peek. NASA discovered the object in October, and scientists believe it's between 500 and 2,000 feet in diameter, LiveScience reports. It won't come closer than 334,000 miles to Earth; the impact of an asteroid of its size would be disastrous. More »

  • Asteroid Won't Slam Into Mars After All

    Jan 11, 08 4:24 AM CST
    Asteroid Won't Slam Into Mars After All An asteroid heading toward Mars won't crash into it after all, according to disappointed scientists. They had initially calculated there was a 1-in-27 chance of the space rock hitting the red planet, but after new observations researchers estimate the odds are only 1 in 10,000, "effectively ruling out the possible collision," according to the latest report. More »

  • Mars Smash Looking Likelier

    Dec 29, 07 7:55 AM CST
    Mars Smash Looking Likelier Scientists say the chances of a giant asteroid smashing into Mars on January 30 have gone up steeply, the AP reports. It's still a 25-1 longshot, but stargazers have their fingers crossed. I think it'll be cool," said a NASA tracker. "Usually when an asteroid is headed toward Earth, I'm not rooting for an impact." More »

This image provided by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope shows a close-up of Mars when it was closest to the Hubble Space Telescope, just 55 million miles away.   (Associated Press)
An artist rendition released by the European Space Agency on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007 shows the main bodies of the solar system, the Sun, Mercury, Venus, the Earth, from left in foreground, Uranus, Neptune,...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 2)

Tags

Mars • Siberia • asteroid


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Science & Health Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser a team of editors and writers culls the most important stories from hundreds of U.S. and international sources and reduces them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. It's the Newser guarantee: we can take any report or column or video and pack what you need to know into 120 words or less. Newser's short-form aggregation, visual format, and unique information tools help you get more of the kind of news you want, in a quicker and more entertaining way. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »