Earth’s Possible Close Encounter With An Asteroid This November

Earth might have a close encounter with a huge asteroid this November, that’s according to Space.com [bold emphasis mine]

Mark your calendars for an impressive and upcoming flyby of an asteroid that’s one of the larger potentially perilous space rocks in the heavens – in terms of smacking the Earth in the future.

It’s the case of asteroid 2005 YU55, a round mini-world that is about 1,300 feet (400 meters) in diameter. In early November, this asteroid will approach Earth within a scant 0.85 lunar distances.

Due the object’s size and whisking by so close to Earth, an extensive campaign of radar, visual and infrared observations are being planned.

Asteroid 2005 YU55 was discovered by Spacewatch at the University of Arizona, Tucson’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory on Dec. 28, 2005. En route and headed our way, the cosmic wanderer is another reminder about life here on our sitting duck of a planet

Read the rest here

This article hasn’t been meant to scare anyone, but as Space.com says our planet looks like a sitting duck.

And gloomy environmental stories about climate change seem to pale against the prospects of a wayward asteroid hitting us-the ultimate Black Swan.

Environmental Black Swan: ‘Doomsday’ Asteroid Could Slam Into Earth on 2036!

Since many people like to scare themselves with fictitious tales of environmental doom, this should represent as the ultimate environmental horror story or a black swan (low probability, high impact) event: earth could be hit by a ‘doomsday’ asteroid!

Scientists have even pegged a date for Armageddon: April 13, 2036!

From the Daily Mail, (emphasis added)

Warning comes days after another asteroid shot over the Pacific just 3,400 miles above the Earth’s surface

An asteroid travelling at 23,000mph could crash into Earth on April 13, 2036 killing millions and causing global chaos, scientists claim.

In a plotline taken straight from a science-fiction film, astronomers in Russia are predicting that the 300-yard-wide Apophis could slam into the planet in 25 years' time.

But don't panic just yet, as it is extremely unlikely to happen.

So unlikely, in fact, that Nasa has given the catastrophic event odds of 250,000-to-1 that it actually takes place.

Read the rest here.

Goodbye anthropogenic global warming!