Another collision-course asteroid on its way

Mars is in danger of being struck by an asteroid at the end of next month, astronomers have calculated.

The newly discovered space rock known as 2007 WD5 has a one in 75 chance of colliding with the planet on January 30 . . .

If 2007 WD5, which is about 100 metres in diameter, does strike Mars on January 30, it would cause an explosion equivalent to several megatonnes of TNT. . .

The object is broadly similar in size to the one that hit Tunguska in Siberia in 1908, which felled an estimated 80 million trees over 810 square miles. Had the Tunguska rock hit a city, it would have wiped it out.

Posted by David on December 21, 2007 8:18 PM