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07/11/2011
Armageddon Asteroid Set For 'Near Miss'
A chunk of space rock measuring 1,300ft wide rock across - called 2005 YU55 - will tonight miss the earth by over a quarter of a million miles - a near miss however, as that's closer than the Moon.
Physicists have calculated that if it actually hit Earth it would unleash a 4,000–megaton blast, many times the yield of the most powerful nuclear bomb.
Such an impact, they said, could wipe out a city the size of London or New York and if it landed in the sea it would cause a 70ft high tsunami. But experts stress there is no chance of such a disaster.
That's not to say there is danger as objects of this size are big enough to cause the mass extinction of most life on Earth.
The asteroid believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago measured only seven kilometres across, it is believed.
Calculations show that the object 2005 Yu55 that is currently hurtling towards Earth is about a quarter of a mile wide, but that it will miss the Earth by 201,700 miles.
However, that is the closest a space rock this size has come to the planet in at least 200 years.
Only astronomers can see it pass though as while roughly spherical in shape and slowly spinning, it is largely made of carbon, with a surface darker than charcoal making it next to impossible to spot with the naked eye.
(BMcC)
Physicists have calculated that if it actually hit Earth it would unleash a 4,000–megaton blast, many times the yield of the most powerful nuclear bomb.
Such an impact, they said, could wipe out a city the size of London or New York and if it landed in the sea it would cause a 70ft high tsunami. But experts stress there is no chance of such a disaster.
That's not to say there is danger as objects of this size are big enough to cause the mass extinction of most life on Earth.
The asteroid believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago measured only seven kilometres across, it is believed.
Calculations show that the object 2005 Yu55 that is currently hurtling towards Earth is about a quarter of a mile wide, but that it will miss the Earth by 201,700 miles.
However, that is the closest a space rock this size has come to the planet in at least 200 years.
Only astronomers can see it pass though as while roughly spherical in shape and slowly spinning, it is largely made of carbon, with a surface darker than charcoal making it next to impossible to spot with the naked eye.
(BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A cloudy morning with a few showers at times. Becoming dry in the afternoon and staying mainly cloudy, but some sunshine breaking through particularly in the east. Maximum temperature 16 °C.Tonight:Quite cloudy across all counties at first but clear spells most likely towards Down and Antrim, becoming widespread through the evening and overnight. Minimum temperature 5 °C.
