NASA tracks cataclysmic asteroid

[Guest SouthernCelt]

I think I posted something on this last year so this isn't really a new story. I really like the name they've given the asteroid, though. Anyone who watches Stargate SG-1 will understand...

Mark your calendar for Sunday, April 13, 2036. That's when a 1,000-foot-wide asteroid named Apophis could hit the Earth with enough force to obliterate a small state.

[Guest gmcp]

Mark your calendar for Sunday, April 13, 2036. That's when a 1,000-foot-wide asteroid named Apophis could hit the Earth with enough force to obliterate a small state.

So, can we officially start the "This Is Who We Are message board pool" on which state gets obliterated?

My vote goes to Texas. It's got a big enough surface area to likely be hit... and its nice and centralized on the continent.

[The Old Man]

I hope not, that's where Wayne lives (I think!).

[Guest SouthernCelt]

I hope not, that's where Wayne lives (I think!).

Nope, I'm in Mississippi. I have Louisiana and Arkansas to absorb the blow (sorry, Gunslinger).

[Guest SouthernCelt]

Apophis may not come here after all:

Risk of asteroid smashing into Earth reduced

[Guest gmcp]

The asteroid, which is about 320 metres in diameter, ranks a 1 on the Torino scale. Zero means an object has no chance of hitting Earth and a 10 means certain impact. At one point, Apophis rated a 4.

They have a scale for everything now

[Guest SouthernCelt]

This new article doesn't give a scale rating for the likelihood of collision but it sounds like it might be going up again:

'Nova' asteroid could rock your world in '36