Collision with asteroids: Does not mean the end of the world

Earlier last week, information about an asteroid named 1999 RQ36 that could collide with the Earth in 2182 raised rumors about the end of the world. But we can rest assured, because a group of scientists has been eyeing this asteroid since 2007 and a plan to survey it to find out how to deal with it.

The risk is not clear

With an approximate diameter of 580m and a distance of 450,000km in Earth orbit, RQ36 is classified by NASA as a group of potentially dangerous asteroids.

The prediction made by University of Valladolid (Spain) last week showed that the possibility of this asteroid colliding with the Earth in the next 190 years is nearly 1 / 1,000, of which the highest risk is 2182 .

The size of RQ36 is not enough to destroy the entire human civilization, but the collision, if it happens, could be equivalent to hundreds of the most powerful atomic bombs available, forming a diameter hole. about 10 km.

Asteroid spacecraft model survey.(Photo: Bee )

However, the risk of collisions is still unclear, since the path of RQ36 depends very much on the Yarkovsky effect (which occurs when an object absorbs sunlight).

So far, ground observation stations have not yet determined the effect of Yarkovsky, so most predictions of the risk of collisions with asteroids have not taken into account this factor. That means that threats that are being warned like RQ36 may not endanger the Earth .

Let the Earth not be surprised

It is because of the above uncertainty that the University of Arizona proposed the launch of the RQ36 survey ship in 2016. The mission of the trip is to map the asteroid's mineral and chemical composition.

In addition, the ship will also approach, collecting RQ36 surface samples brought to Earth. Scientists hope that the trip will help them for the first time accurately calculate the Yarkovsky effect, and understand more about asteroid structure.

These results are extremely important, as it helps determine whether RQ36 is a real threat to the Earth or just "passersby" .