[SunkenCiv]

[Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, WISE]

[momtothree]

Let me get this right... each red dot is an asteroid? Okay... is this the point where I go running and screaming?!! LOL!

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Nice post.

[ixtl]

So the conclusion is (a) we get clobbered by an asteroid, (b) fried when our sun goes nova, or (c) swallowed by a black hole.

At least it puts a bad day in perspective.

[CodeToad]

Old Model: We THINK many object could do major damage.
New Model: We are SURE there are objects that can do damage, just half of what we were guessing before.

[Lawgvr1955]

ITEOTWAWKI

[Verginius Rufus]

OK, which ones are asteroids and which ones are planetoids?

Now that astronomers have created a category called "dwarf planets," does that mean that there are also "dwarf planetoids"? Or are those just meteoroids?

[PapaNew]

...and one of those puppies has our number on it.

[aruanan]

the estimated number of mid-size near-Earth asteroids from about 35,000 to 19,500, but the majority still remain undiscovered.

The majority of the actual number of asteroids or the majority of the estimated number?

So we're 40% less totally effed? If that were a room and each red dot were a cockroach, there would still plenty to be freaked out about.

[aruanan]

the estimated number of mid-size near-Earth asteroids from about 35,000 to 19,500, but the majority still remain undiscovered.

Also, are those red dots only those asteroids that are in the ecliptic plane? Do any exist above or below it?