Could an asteroid hit us in 2032?
Could a chunk of space rock hit our planet?
Asteroid 2013 TV135 is very likely to miss Earth
Asked by Tim Beckingham
In October 2013, NASA put the probability of an Earth impact from asteroid 2013 TV135 as one in 63,000, with a 99.998% certainty that it will miss Earth’s orbit.
The asteroid was discovered by astronomers working at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Ukraine, when it came within about 6.7 million kilometres (4.2 million miles) of Earth. It is estimated to be around 400 metres (1,300 feet) in size and its orbit carries it as far out as three quarters of the distance to Jupiter’s orbit and as close to the Sun as Earth’s orbit. With the Near-Earth Object Observations Program – commonly called ‘Spaceguard’ – watching any chunks of rock that could be potentially hazardous to our planet, you can sleep safe in the knowledge that 2013 TV135 (or any apocalyptic asteroid) won’t hit us in 2032.
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