NASA downgrades threat of large asteroid (WHEW!!! 2036 strike even more less likely)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 10/7/09 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

LOS ANGELES – Earth can breathe a sigh of relief.

NASA on Wednesday downgraded the odds of an 885-foot asteroid striking the planet in 2036.

Scientists initially believed there was a 1-in-45,000 chance that Apophis could hit the planet on April 13, 2036. But the threat was lowered to a 1-in-250,000 chance after researchers recalculated the asteroid's path.

"It wasn't anything to worry about before. Now it's even less so," said Steve Chesley, an astronomer with the Near Earth Object Program at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

[tired1]

too bad

[The Sons of Liberty]

NASA downgrades threat of large asteroid (WHEW!!! 2036 strike even more less likely)

You know they say you don't ever see the one that gets you ...

[NormsRevenge]

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/

NASA Refines Asteroid Apophis’ Path Toward Earth

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news164.html

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

I don’t know whats more disturbing. The facts its there or the act NASA can’t get its calculations right...

[Lucky9teen]

[NormsRevenge]

The Apophis asteroid is approximately the size of two-and-a-half football fields.

[silverleaf]

These guys work for the same government that misses its economic estimates every month and revises them after the fact

ooops

[A. Morgan]

I’m calling BS. H the weatherman can’t get tomorrows weather forecast right two days in a row!

[DuncanWaring]

I don’t think it’s a matter of “can’t get its calculations right” ... I think it’s more a matter of “over a period of time, with more observations, there’s less uncertainty in where it is and what its trajectory is, so there’s less uncertainty on where it’s going to be in 2036”.

[Red Badger]

Not to worry, we won’t be here after 2012!..........................DEC 22.............

[Red Badger]

The Apophis asteroid is approximately the size of two-and-a-half football fields.

NFL or CFL?...........

[LeonardFMason]

WHO do I sue? I have been living it up and spending all of my money. Now they say not to worry about it.

[Dewey Revoltnow]

Its alright. We're ready for it.

[Dewey Revoltnow]

WHO do I sue? I have been living it up and spending all of my money. Now they say not to worry about it.

You're lucky. The government trashed all my savings/investments.

[paulycy]

The world comes to an end in 2012 anyway. No big deal.

[GauchoUSA]

Thank God for that!

[chrisser]

NASA downgrades threat of large asteroid

Will the president be addressing the nation tonight to take credit?

[RipSawyer]

“2036 strike even more less likely”
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In other news the English language was declared dead, English was the victim of hit and run killers who are largely unaware of the death they have caused. Authorities say that there is little chance that anyone will be brought to justice for the killing because it would probably be impossible to convene a jury composed entirely of individuals who would not bear some degree of guilt for the slaughter.

[SpinnerWebb]

Yeah, but we still gotta fret over 2007 VK184.

[davisfh]

I am very much relieved. I’ll still be able to celebrate my 100th birthday in October of that year.

[reagan_fanatic]

Yea, but that 251,000 time - LOOK OUT!!

[ArrogantBustard]

Wow! After three tries, somebody gets it right.

The authors of #8 and #9 apparently didn't pay attention in Science Class.

In Fifth Grade.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Anything really big we would detect early enough to plan to divert it. Extinction by asteroid is not in the cards for humanity anymore is my view.

[arthurus]

2036 strike even more less likely)

Interesting construction.

[Verginius Rufus]

After the asteroid doesn’t hit the earth on April 13, 2036, President Obama will take credit for it as he campaigns for his eighth term.

[BertWheeler]

Glad to hear it.

[The Duke]

This ... from a bunch of scientists who support global warming cooling?!?!

[southernnorthcarolina]

But the threat was lowered to a 1-in-250,000 chance after researchers recalculated the asteroid's path.

So there's still a better chance of being hit by that asteroid in 2036 than there is of the Cubs winning the World Series by then.