Asteroid size of the Albert Hall may hit Earth in 2017

Near-Earth asteroid, computer artwork.
Near-Earth asteroid, computer artwork.




Experts are warning that an asteroid measuring at between 12 and 40 metres could hit Earth in 2017.

The rock, which comes in at the same height as the Albert Hall, is currently making its way towards our planet and there is a chance it could smash straight into it in just two years time, the Evening Standard reports.

But don't panic just yet because it's pretty likely that the huge rock will just fly straight on past Earth, leaving us out of the danger zone.

Judit Györgyey-Ries who is an astronomer at the University of Texas, told astrowatch.net: "It has a 0.00055 per cent cumulative chance that it will hit."

Adding: "We could see an airburst maybe broken windows, depending on where it hits".

According to the BBC, an asteroid is a rock based or metallic mass that are generally found orbiting the sun, it is thought that they are made up of material that has been left over after the creation of planets.

Two years ago video footage captured a meteor hitting the moon at an astonishing 37,500 miles-per-hour.

The giant boulder measured 131 feet wide and weighed 88lbs, the Huffington Post reported.

The point where the meteor struck the moon was seen to glow for over 8 seconds which is one of the longest ever witnessed.

In 2013 the Ural Mountains in Russia were hit by a meteor which came crashing down to Earth, injuring at least 950 in the process.

The meteor generated significant shockwaves that left buildings shaking and blew out windows, the BBC reported.



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