The chance of a city-killing asteroid striking Earth is higher than scientists believed, a non-profit group building an asteroid-hunting telescope said on Tuesday.
A global network that detects nuclear weapons detonations, discovered 26 asteroids that exploded in Earth's atmosphere from 2000 to 2013 (data collected by the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization shows.)
Former astronaut Ed Lu says "There is a popular misconception that asteroid impacts are extraordinarily rare ... that's incorrect
Asteroids as small as about 131 feet - less than half the size of a football field - have the potential to destroy a city, Lu told reporters on a conference call
"Picture a large apartment building - moving at Mach 50," (50 times the speed of sound) Lu said.
NASA already has a program in place that tracks asteroids larger than 0.65 mile. An object of this size, roughly equivalent to a small mountain, would have global consequences if it struck Earth.
"For now all we have to do is wait"
A global network that detects nuclear weapons detonations, discovered 26 asteroids that exploded in Earth's atmosphere from 2000 to 2013 (data collected by the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization shows.)
Former astronaut Ed Lu says "There is a popular misconception that asteroid impacts are extraordinarily rare ... that's incorrect
Asteroids as small as about 131 feet - less than half the size of a football field - have the potential to destroy a city, Lu told reporters on a conference call
"Picture a large apartment building - moving at Mach 50," (50 times the speed of sound) Lu said.
NASA already has a program in place that tracks asteroids larger than 0.65 mile. An object of this size, roughly equivalent to a small mountain, would have global consequences if it struck Earth.
"For now all we have to do is wait"
Koltz, Irene. "Risk of asteroid hitting Earth higher than thought, study shows."
Reuters. N.p., 24 Apr. 2014. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
Reuters. N.p., 24 Apr. 2014. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
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