Near Earth Objects

[gatorback]

What are these pesky little things any way?

The impact probability for a collision of asteroid 2007 WD5 with Mars on January 30 has increased from 1.3% to 3.9%. Pre-discovery observations of asteroid 2007 WD5, taken on November 8, 2007 have allowed its orbit to be refined and the uncertainties for the late January Mars encounter have been improved. The impact probability resulting from the recent orbit refinement has increased to a surprising 3.9% (about 1 in 25 odds).

1 in 25! wow.  that's close. 

[downtownparks]

I'm reading Lucifer's Hammer right now... how very topical!

[gatorback]

I'll have to google that.  I'm glad to see somebody is reading.  What I found amazing with the NEO 2007 WD5 is the orbit refinement.  I'm waiting for the "refinement" to 2004 RQ252 or 2003 XJ7.  The later NEO's Close-Approach Date is 2021 (A lot of talk about this guy I think), but the first NEO 2004 RQ25's date is 2012!  Funny how all ancient calendars have 2012 as the last year.   (Maybe one of the above should be 2007 HV4 I'm not completely sure)

It's scary to think that 2007 VK184 might get an upgrade too.  That guy is scheduled for 2048 I think.