Do you think that Asteroid is going to hit the earth?

Answer 1

There is actually a website about that, that shows you how close they come, i don't remember it off-hand though. it's pretty neat though, you can like fast forward in time, and reverse.

Even if an Asteroid was going to hit the earth, whomever spotted it wouldn't tell anyone, would cause too much commotion.

Here is a pretty cool site I just found about it, it says 1 in 40 chance in 2029
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/asteroid_update_041227.html

Answer 2

It's an astronomical certainty that an Asteroid will eventually hit the Earth. They've been doing it since the formation of the solar system. We're overdue, since the last big hit was about 12 million years ago, which is the average cycle. Astronomers have mapped thousands of them, with only a few that are given higher than 50-50 chance probability of hitting the earth. The earliest one being in 2036 (Apophis), but even that chance is remote. 1950DA has a greater chance, but that won't be until 877 more years.

The scary ones are the asteroids not mapped, such as the ones coming from behind the Sun in the elliptical paths. By the time they're spotted, we'll have about two years advance warning, little time for an interdiction plan. We need at least 10 years advance warning to initiate an interdiction strategy.

Answer 3

Asteroids (meteorites when they hit) have, are and will always hit the earth. I suppose your question concerns the big ones that can cause considerable, civilization threatening damage. Well, yes, at some point one will be on a collision course for Earth. The question therefore, is when?

The ones we're concerned about are Near Earth Objects, NEO's. A number of which have been in the news in recent years because they were, at first, considered to be threatening to Earth. Take a look at the NEO site and about the NEO's that are being tracked.

Answer 4

Eventually a large meteor, comet, or asteroid WILL hit the Earth. There are many locations on the planet which show evidence of such events.
Scientists are mapping the galxy looking for objects with near-Earth collision courses and are figuring out how to deal with the possibility of having to deflect such an object off that course.

Let's hope they figure out how before it is too late.

Answer 5

Given and infinate number of asteroids, and an infinate amount of time, it's eventually going to happen. Fortuatly for us, we're a small target, which means it won't happen for a long time, but will happen.

Sidenote: after an asteroid penetrates Earth's atmosphere, it's called a meterorite, we're being hit all the time

Answer 6

They've hit the earth before and they will hit the earth again. As far as a castrophic asteroid collision with the earth, I don't think it will happen in our lifetime. Then again, you never know. Hollywood is usually right on track with these things.

Answer 7

they have and always will hit the earth - we have been hit by millions since the earth took form

whether one destroys life on earth in our lifetime is less likely but could happen

Answer 8

no, chances are under 1% even when it gets "close"

before you start your doomsday preparations, think about what's gonna happen if asteroid _does_not_ hit the earth.

Answer 9

What asteroid!

Answer 10

Ha, I just wrote a paper on this. In what time frame? Of what size? Check out http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/sl9/back2.html for NASA's take on it. Do a google search on Richard Posner for more info.