[güttsfükk]

The circled dot on the left shows Asteroid 2012 DA14 as filmed by scientists in Spain. The graph on the right shows Earth in green and the asteroid in yellow, with orbits that intersect twice a year (Pics: ESA)

An asteroid with the destructive power of an H-bomb will narrowly miss Earth next year, scientists have said.

The 50m-long space rock will whizz past our planet on February 15, 2013, at a distance of just 15,000 miles. That's closer than the orbit of many commercial satellites.

Scientists say there is no chance that we will be hit by Asteroid 2012 DA14 but such a possibility cannot be ruled out in years to come.

If it did smash into Earth the force of the explosion would destroy an area the size of Greater London.

The asteroid was spotted last month by scientists in a Spanish observatory after they searched an area of the sky where asteroids are not normally seen.

Dr Gerhard Drolshagen, a near-Earth object observer from the European Space Agency's Space Situational Awareness (SSA) office said, at roughly 50m across, an impact "would have the force of the biggest nuclear weapon."

The asteroid is expected to make its closest approach shortly after 6pm UK time.

"Next year it will be nice to watch through a pair of binoculars, but there is nothing to worry about," said Dr Drolshagen.

"In future times the possibility of a collision cannot be completely excluded. It is highly unlikely, but the chance is greater than zero."

Scientists at the SSA are developing new telescopes aimed at automatically detecting large asteroids at least three weeks before their closest approach to Earth.

In November of last year, the 400m Asteroid 2005 YU55 skimmed past Earth. At one point it was roughly 200,000 miles away from us.

An asteroid estimated to be 40m across exploded over Tunguska in Siberia in 1908, obliterating about 800 sq miles of forest.

http://news.sky.com/home/technology/article/16189789

[bigmikeymike]

Not the first time, won't be the last.


That would be some show if it hit amiright?

[jay-bannab]

2012 late:2gunsf iring_v1:

[Pyramid_Head]

Maybe someday it will actually hit...I just hope it doesn't happen.

[ices]

If it does hit I hope its some shit hole that gets wiped out.

[Steve]

Please hit Wales.

[Robert440]

Pff all we have to do is send Bruce Willis and a bunch of B actors....and one nuke....

[ices]

Originally Posted by Steve. ↗

Please hit Wales.

Then whatever will we do about jokes?


Also, no! Fuck the cost of cleaning that sheep mess up.

[Dynamo47]

Thanks for posting. Very interesting and scary at the same time.

I guess it's irrelevant if the world is ending on 12.21.12

[zombie-rot420]

Maybe its secretley a vessel that will carry us to a better place in the heavens. I bet the only way to get on board is to kill ourselves. Who's with me? I need to know how strong to make the punch....