NASA and JPL have now been determined that asteroid 2007 WD5 will indeed miss Mars scathing by the Red Planet at nearly 3000 miles away, which in space distance is like walking across the street.
The latest bit of data has dropped the chances from 4% to less than 0.01% and will deny astronomical observers a chance to measure and research, first hand, almost immediate effects of an object from space plowing into a planet’s surface.
The Mars rover named Opportunity would have been a LIVE observer if the asteroid would have impacted as it was heading in the rover’s general location.
Curses.
Too bad NASA can’t MAKE an asteroid hit Mars instead of waiting around for one to hit.
That might be good for poor Opportunity. He doesn’t have to risk his little robot life just for some great pictures.