Near Earth Asteroids

CR1995

• Holds current record for closest asteroid to earth
• Was video taped on Feb 20, 1995.

  MPEG demo # 1

  MPEG demo # 2

  MPEG demo # 3

  • Diameter of CR1995: approximately 200 meters.

    The orbit of CR1995 crosses that of the 4 inner planets.

    CR1995 is on a chaotic and highly unstable path.

    If this asteroid were to strike earth, it would have a velocity of 69,000 miles per hour. This impact would release energy equivalent to a 1000 metaton bomb and cause a 2 mile crator.

This picture is not real, but it is definately possible.

Asteroids on the order of 100 meters in diameter and up are capable of serious damage to the earth and it's occupants.

An asteroid with a diameter of approximately 8 miles is believed to have ended the "dinosaur era".

Given that an asteroid strikes earth, it is most likely to land in the ocean. Since asteroids contain high amounts of sulfur, a large enough asteroid could turn our oceans acidic, and create tsunamis with heights greater than 30 meters.

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