Friday, January 04, 2008

Mars Asteroid Update

While asteroid WD5- 2007 is still a few weeks out from any potential impact with Mars, scientists back on Terra Firma are drooling over the prospects of a Mars asteroid hit. The scientific data from such a strike would be enormous, providing information about asteroid and comet impacts that up till now has existed in the realm of pure speculation.

The odds of impact have decreased to 3.6% chance of an impact, down from 3.9% a few days ago. To the outside observer, these odds are very small, but as far as asteroid impacts go, this far surpasses anything that has been detected previously. Experts expect that the odds will decrease to a zero percent probability of an impact.

I, like many other science minded folks out there, am hoping for an impact. Not only would it provide data on an asteroid impact itself, it also has the chance to expose evidence of biological material on Mars that would normally be sealed underground. A true cornucopia of scientific data!

SPACE.com Blog
SPACE.com Story

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