Last night a lot of people stayed up late and watched the fireworks as a new year arrived. Some made resolutions - and most at least wondered what interesting events would occur during the next three hundred and sixty five days.
The " gloom and doom " people might be interested to know that there is an asteroid whizzing around in space that has a chance of colliding with the earth - in twenty six years time. According to the science people - in 2036!
Of course that needs to be taken in context. This great hunk of rock has been making passes at the earth for centuries and will miss by just 30,000 kilometres in 2029 - and that is termed " a close encounter ".
The odds of it actually " dinging " earth have increased from one in forty five thousand - to four in a million. That should be enough to dismiss it from most minds.
The asteroid even has a name. It's called " Apophis " - and now we can go back to nursing that new year's eve hangover - and worrying about how we can pay the Visa card and the gas bill.
Forget about Apophis. If we are still around that will be something to mix with the fireworks when we get ready to welcome a new year twenty six years from now !
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