October 8, 2008

  • Asteroid Hits

    A small, newly-discovered asteroid named 2008 TC3 is
    approaching Earth and chances are good that it will hit.
    Measuring only a few meters across, the space rock poses no
    threat to people or structures on the ground, but it should
    create a spectacular fireball, releasing about a kiloton of
    energy as it disintegrates and explodes in the high
    atmosphere above northern Sudan. However, it should be
    noted that the asteroid has just been discovered. Had it been
    thirty meters across instead of three, it would have been a
    catastrophe, and one with
    very little
    warning    .