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Chance for a Tunguska Sized Impact on Mars

Posted by Soulskill on from the flying-rocks-that-will-not-kill-us dept.

Multiple users have written to tell us of an LA Times report that an asteroid may hit Mars on January 30th. The asteroid is roughly 160 feet across, and JPL-based researchers say that it will have a 1-in-75 chance of striking Mars. Those odds are very high for this type of event, and scientists are hoping to witness an impact of a similar scope to the Tunguska disaster. From the LA Times: "Because scientists have never observed an asteroid impact -- the closest thing being the 1994 collision of comet Shoemaker-Levy with Jupiter -- such a collision on Mars would produce a 'scientific bonanza,' Chesley said."

3 of 184 comments (clear)

  1. This just in! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Small rock might hit bigger rock. More news @ 11

  2. In other news... by Tastecicles · · Score: -1, Troll

    The Beagle 2 rover has been found. Astronomers watching the asteroid hit Mars say they saw the probe flash through their field of view just before it embedded itself in Natalie Portman's cleavage. Former US President William Clinton was first in line to try and extricate it. He is quoted as saying "Dammit, this thing is stuck good."

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    Operation Guillotine is in effect.
    1. Re:In other news... by Tastecicles · · Score: 0, Troll

      Portman's *ass* cleavage ;)

      Hope it's not hairy, Ms. P :)

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      Operation Guillotine is in effect.