Scientists Have Predicted The Exact Date Asteroid Is In Danger Of Hitting Earth With Force Of 22 Atomic Bombs

People mark your calendars because scientists have announced the precise day when an asteroid predicted to strike Earth with the force of 22 atomic bombs will occur.

Getty Images

The asteroid Bennu orbits the Earth every six years, but scientists have projected that it will make contact with Earth on a day in September many years from now.

Bennu will not collide with the asteroid thanks to plans developed by NASA. Their mission is currently in its "final leg."

At NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, Richard Burns, project manager for OSIRIS-REx, outlined all the work that has been done to divert it.

He said: "We are now in the final leg of this seven-year journey, and it feels very much like the last few miles of a marathon, with a confluence of emotions like pride and joy coexisting with a determined focus to complete the race well."

Credit: NASA

Since Bennu is just about a third of a mile across, it is only slightly larger than the asteroid that is considered to have killed the dinosaurs. 

Bennu is not massive enough to wipe out life on Earth, but it will unleash destruction 600 miles away from the collision location.

You'll be even happier to learn that there is actually very little chance of Bennu colliding with our planet and wreaking havoc on the lives of our future generations.

While there is a probability, according to NASA, there is an "extremely small chance" that Bennu may collide with Earth on September 24, 2182.

Getty Images

We also have some time to relax because the date is close to the end of the 22nd century.

An impact by this missile on Earth on September 24, 2182, has a 1:2700 (0.037%) chance, according to a new report provided by the OSIRIS-REx science team last month.

“Although it is difficult to determine the odds of this actually happening, new data from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft have allowed scientists to better model how Bennu’s orbit will evolve over time, and to better calculate the probability of an impact,” NASA explains.

On September 25, 2135, Bennu will swing near Earth very closely. According to NASA, Bennu's location in 2182 will change depending on how the flyby in 2135 goes. 

The likelihood that Bennu will collide with Earth by 2300 is one in 1,750.

So, while the idea of an asteroid collision might sound like the stuff of science fiction, rest assured that NASA is diligently working to ensure our safety. 

The chances of Bennu posing a significant threat to our planet are remote, and as we look toward the future, our understanding of these celestial dynamics continues to evolve. Thanks to the remarkable work of scientists and space agencies.

As we eagerly await further updates on this cosmic drama, it's a testament to human ingenuity and determination that we're actively taking steps to protect our planet from potential threats from the vast expanse of space. So, mark your calendars and stay tuned for more news from the world of science and space exploration.