Different News Stories On Mars "asteroid 2007 Wd5"?????

Discussion in 'Astronomy, Exobiology, & Cosmology' started by cat2only, Jan 9, 2008.

  1. cat2only Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    334
    :shrug:Why the difference?

    Alaska researcher changes asteroid orbit
    Posted : Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:04:24 GMT
    Author : Science News Editor
    Category : Science (Technology)
    News Alerts by Email click here )
    Create your own RSS

    Science Technology News | Home



    ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Jan. 8 An astrophysicist at the University of Alaska uncovered the information that narrowed the odds of an asteroid hitting Mars.

    Andrew Puckett, who is doing post-doctoral research in Anchorage, found archival NASA data while using the Christmas break as a working vacation, the Anchorage Daily News reported. After he supplied the information to NASA, agency scientists increased the possibility of "Asteroid 2007 WD5" striking Mars from one in 75 to one in 28.

    http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/171121.html


    AND??

    By Tariq Malik

    updated 5:24 p.m. PT, Tues., Jan. 8, 2008
    The chances of an asteroid smacking into Mars this month are slipping away as astronomers continue to refine its course toward the Red Planet.

    The space rock, an asteroid called 2007 WD5, is now expected to miss Mars by about 18,641 miles (30,000 kilometers), according a Tuesday report by NASA's Near Earth Object (NEO) program office.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22562747/

    Which one do I believe? 1 in 40 or 1 in 28?? :shrug::shrug:
     
  2. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  3. Janus58 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,394
    The 1 in 28 figure is old news. The 1 in 40 figure is the lastest information.
     
  4. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  5. cat2only Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    334
    Both stories were on the 8th and released the 9th.
     
  6. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  7. blobrana Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,214
  8. Janus58 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,394
    Here's an article dated from Dec 30th that is the same story as the one from earthtimes.org.

    They are just late in reporting on it.
     
  9. blobrana Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,214
    The latest Impact odds are now 1 in 10,000 (0.01% ), after more observations by at least 4 different observatories.
     
  10. cat2only Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    334
    Correct now estimated distance is 26,000 km or 16,155.650 miles from the surface. Go figure? Older calculations had it at 18,000+ miles from the surface. These new calculations have it closer. How do the odds of impact decrease when the object is calculated to be closer???
     
  11. Read-Only Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    10,296
    It's not so much due to it being closer as it is that the charted path has become longer. That makes it easier (more accurate) to project the continued path.
     
  12. cat2only Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    334

Share This Page