The meteorite will hit Mars at the end of January 2008

A meteorite will crash into Mars with a probability of 1/75 on January 30 next year, according to scientists from the US Aerospace Agency (NASA).

NASA astronomer Steve Chesley said the meteor named 2007 WD5, discovered late last November, is the size of a meteorite that had crashed into Siberia in 1908, with the power of atomic bombs. 15-megaton and destroy 60 million large trees. The team of scientists said that currently meteorites are between Earth and Mars, they initially bet on a collision with a probability of 1/350 but now they have increased the probability of 1/75.

They hope the chance of touching will decrease early next month, after new information about the asteroid's orbit. Mr. Chesley said the meteorite is heading towards Mars, and if the collision appears to take place at the equator of Mars, near where Rover is exploring the Martian plains since 2004.

The Rover ship will not be in danger because it is outside the collision zone. At speeds of nearly 13 km / sec, the collision will dig a deep hole with a crater in Arizona (USA). Mr. Chesley said there is nothing to worry about because the meteorite will not touch the Earth, and this is an opportunity for mankind to learn more about the universe.

Photograph of Mars provided by NASA (Photo: AP)

UA