The possibility of a catastrophic asteroid impact on Earth has been a topic of concern for scientists and the general public alike. However, recent studies have shown that the probability of Earth avoiding a ‘planet killer’ asteroid for the next 1,000 years is high.
According to NASA’s Near-Earth Object (NEO) program, there are currently no known asteroids that pose a significant threat to Earth in the next century. The program tracks and monitors asteroids and comets that come within 30 million miles of Earth’s orbit, and any object larger than 140 meters in size is considered a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA).
While there are over 20,000 PHAs in our solar system, only a small fraction of them are considered a threat to Earth. The probability of a PHA colliding with Earth in the next 100 years is estimated to be less than 0.01%.
Furthermore, NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) is constantly working on developing strategies to detect and deflect any potential asteroid threats. The PDCO is responsible for coordinating efforts between NASA, other government agencies, and international partners to ensure the safety of our planet.
One such strategy is the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, which is set to launch in 2021. The mission aims to test the effectiveness of using a spacecraft to deflect an asteroid off its collision course with Earth.
In addition to detection and deflection strategies, scientists are also working on improving our understanding of asteroid behavior and composition. This knowledge can help us better predict the trajectory and potential impact of any asteroids that may pose a threat to Earth.
While the probability of a ‘planet killer’ asteroid impacting Earth in the next 1,000 years is low, it is still important to remain vigilant and continue developing strategies to protect our planet. The potential consequences of such an impact could be catastrophic, and it is our responsibility to take proactive measures to prevent it from happening.
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- Source: https://zephyrnet.com/earth-will-likely-dodge-planet-killer-asteroids-for-the-next-1000-years/