<\/p>\n
On January 29th, 2008, <\/span>Near Earth Object 2007 TU24 will intersect Earth\u2019s orbit <\/span><\/a>at the startling proximity of only 0.0038AU \u2014 or 1.4 lunar distances from our planet. According to the <\/span>resources I reviewed, <\/span><\/a>this NEO represents the closest known approach to Earth until 2027, assuming no more surprises like the 2007 TU24, which was discovered on October 11th, 2007.<\/span><\/p>\n That an asteroid won\u2019t strike is an assumption we can\u2019t afford to make. 2007 TU24 will not impact the planet but may pass through a portion of Earth\u2019s magnetosphere. We can\u2019t predict the repercussions of this transit with any certainty at this time. However, the possibilities range from no effect to potentially catastrophic changes to weather, tectonic plate movement, the oceans, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n Some might say that we do not need to be concerned \u2014 that this kind of near miss (and let\u2019s be frank here \u2014 in the vastness of even our solar system, 1.4 lunar distances from Earth is a near miss) is a freak occurrence. Don\u2019t be so sure. One day later \u2014 that\u2019s right, on January 30th, it was thought possible \u2014 one might even say reasonably likely \u2014 that another asteroid would strike our second nearest celestial neighbor, Mars.<\/span><\/p>\n