The Press Stories
A gigantic space rock twice the size of Big Penn will have crossed Earth tonight NASA Bofins.
The Asteroid, Called 2020 WD5, will magnify us just before 8.30pm.
Scientists say the behemoth measures 96 to 210 meters in diameter.
Despite being four million miles away from our planet, this encounter is considered NASA’s ‘closest approach’.
(Image: Press Association)
Glass This shows how experts have stressed that the chances of the 2020 WD5 hitting us are very slim.
But in a twist reminiscent of a Hollywood conspiracy line, they refuse to rule out the possibility of an asteroid colliding with us in the future.
In the catastrophic film Armageddon, Bruce Willis takes a Modley crew into space and diverts a monster asteroid from destroying Earth.
NASA explained: “However, in the long run, the chances of the Earth being hit are not very low, so some types of NEO insurance are guaranteed.
“At the moment, our best insurance is with NEO scientists, first trying to find these products and monitor their movements in the future. We need to find them first and then monitor them.”
If an asteroid is detected in the course of a collision with Earth, NASA has several tricks up to its sleeve to prevent the collision.
It explained: “One of the recommended techniques for orbiting an asteroid is a nuclear fusion weapon mounted above the surface that slightly changes the speed of the asteroid without breaking it.
“High-velocity neutrons from an explosion radiate an object on the surface of an asteroid facing an explosion. The material in this surface shell then expands and explodes, creating a backlash on the asteroid.
“A very moderate velocity change in the asteroid’s motion (only a few millimeters per second) can cause the asteroid to completely lose ground as it operates for many years.
“This latter option, while popular in movies, only creates a bigger problem when all parts are facing the earth.
“Another option discussed involves the installation of large solar vessels on a small threatening object, so that the pressure of sunlight will eventually divert the object from its predicted Earth collision.”
