"A large asteroid in space that has a remote chance of slamming into Earth would most likely hit in 2182, if it crashes into our planet at all, a new study suggests.
The asteroid, called 1999 RQ36, has about a 1-in-1,000 chance of actually hitting the Earth, but half of that risk corresponds to potential impacts in the year 2182, said study co-author Mar Eugenia Sansaturio of the Universidad de Valladolid in Spain.
Sansaturio and her colleagues used mathematical models to determine the risk of asteroid 1999 RQ36 impacting Earth through the year 2200. They found two potential opportunities for the asteroid to hit Earth in 2182."
...???
the wording of this article confuses me.
first, the asteroid will hit us in 2182, if at all??? no possible chance later?
second, there are two potential opportunities to hit us... unless it hits us the first time of course...
third, they say "there is a 1 in 1000 chance it hits us, but half the risk corresponds to potential impacts in 2182." what the hell does that mean?
this is the worst example of "sensational journalism" meets poorly interpreted science.
jeez, no wonder people don't want to get into science, it sounds like we're all idiots.
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