Imperiled Martians

Mars Could be in for an Asteroid Hit!

A newly discovered chunk of space rock, Asteroid 2007WD5, has a 1-in-75 chance of slamming into the Red Planet on Jan. 30, scientists said last week.

"These odds are extremely unusual. We frequently work with really long odds when we track ... threatening asteroids," said Steve Chesley, an astronomer with the Near Earth Object Program at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

2007WD5 was discovered in late November by the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona. It is similar in size — about 50 yards across — to an object that exploded over Tungaska, Siberia in 1908, unleashing energy equivalent to a 15-megaton nuclear bomb and wiping out 60 million trees.

The asteroid, which poses no threat to Earth, is closing in on the Red Planet at 27,900 mph.

Speeding along at 8 miles per second, a collision would likely blast a half-mile-wide crater north of where the rover Opportunity has been exploring the Martian plains since 2004.

"Unlike an Earth impact, we're not afraid, but we're excited," Chesley said.

Too cool ... Unless you're a Martian.

Or ... unless 2000WD5 whacks into Mars like a cue ball, sending the Red Planet caroming out of Martian-orbit and into, say ... the Moon, which in turn goes spinning towards Earth in a game of Cosmic Billiards.

Which brings to mind ...
 
When the end of the world arrives how will the media report it?

USA Today: WE'RE DEAD

The Wall Street Journal: DOW JONES PLUMMETS AS WORLD ENDS

National Enquirer: O.J. AND NICOLE, TOGETHER AGAIN

Playboy: GIRLS OF THE APOCALYPSE

Microsoft Systems Journal: APPLE LOSES MARKET SHARE

Victoria's Secret Catalog: OUR FINAL SALE

Sports Illustrated: GAME OVER

Rolling Stone: THE GRATEFUL DEAD REUNION TOUR

Readers Digest: 'BYE

Discover Magazine: HOW WILL THE EXTINCTION OF ALL LIFE AS WE KNOW IT AFFECT THE WAY WE VIEW THE COSMOS?

TV Guide: DEATH AND DAMNATION: NIELSON RATINGS SOAR!

Ladies' Home Journal: LOSE 10 LBS BY JUDGMENT DAY WITH OUR NEW "ARMAGEDDON" DIET!

America Online: SYSTEM TEMPORARILY DOWN. TRY CALLING BACK IN 15 MINUTES.

Inc. magazine: TEN WAYS YOU CAN PROFIT FROM THE APOCALYPSE

Microsoft's Web Site: IF YOU DIDN'T EXPERIENCE THE RAPTURE, DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE PATCH RAPT777.EXE.