Late summer Apophis flew near our planet. Studies showed that the 1 to 45,000 chance of its getting into the “keyhole”, a dot in the space where gravity forces can turn it to the Earth. “It is quite an undertaking to estimate the danger with a low possibility,” said Michael DeKay from the Center for Risk Perception and Communication at Carnegie Mellon University. “Some people think that if the possibility is low, there is nothing to think about; others take into consideration the serious aftermath of the catastrophe and believe that even the lowest possibility is inadmissible.” According to calculations made by Stephen Chesley, who works on Near Earth Project at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, we are not supposed not worry until 2013. The scientist said that Apophis will not approach satellites close enough for the risk of collision to appear. In his interview with New Scientist Chesley said: “We confirm our calculations and the idea that they were corrected is inadequate.”
 |
|
|
 |
| Giant asteroids not likely to ram into Earth in foreseeable future |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aldo Vitagliano from the University of Naples Federico II made his individual calculations of asteroids’ orbits and estimated possible risks. He agrees with NASA experts that corrections are inadequate. “The news is certainly a newspaper hoax,” said the scientist. “My calculations coincide with those of NASA Propulsion Laboratory.” It is only to be added that Chesley himself admitted that his laboratory constantly compares its calculations with those from other sources.
Therefore, the apocalypse seems to be postponed, but that does not mean that there is no looming threat of collision between large celestial bodies and planet Earth.
Nezavisimaya Gazeta
Translated by Julia Bulygina
Pravda.ru
Join Pravda.ru forum. Registration is free and simple
Gay marriage may not happen for California
Forum
STATISTICS
Source: 
