The end of civilization as we know it? Astronomers discover over 5,000 space objects that pose a threat to Earth – TheLiberal.ie – Our News, Your Views

The end of civilization as we know it? Astronomers discover over 5,000 space objects that pose a threat to Earth




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It has happened before, and it will happen again. It’s just a question of when.

So it began the sci-fi classic Armageddon.

Yet, the possibility of a global killer striking Earth does keep increasing, as astronomers at the European Space Agency (ESA) have identified over 5,000 objects that pose a threat to our planet.

These objects, deemed ‘Near Earth Objects (NEOs)’, range from mere meters to tens of kilometers in size, and hurtle through space at dizzying speeds, describing orbits that may one day put them in a collision course with the planet we call home.

But not for a while anyway, as scientist believe that there’s only a very narrow chance that anything will strike Earth for the next 40 years or so.

But keep watching the skies. Just in case.

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