> For the first time ever a Near Earth Object ... has been detected that 
> ranks as category
> 2 on the Torino seriousness scale. Till now 2 have rated category 1 and 
> many
> more category 0.
>
>    http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/

Now Torino 4 rating and 1.6% probability as many astronomers provide 
additional orbital data. However, there is every chance that over the 25 
years between now and first possible impact the situation will change 
substantially. It is highly likely that refined data will reduce assessed 
impact probability to about 0.

Available energy is equivalent to around 1500 Megatons. Far above that of 
any man made explosion but still not liable to be especially significant 
globally long term. You'd rather not be underneath it at the time.


Other related pages

2000 MN4 brief discussion

        http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/portal_images/neo_banner.jpg

NASA papers on asteroid protection and hyped reports

    http://128.102.32.13/impact/

Basic information on a range of historically known NEOs
& some larger terrestial impact craters

    http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/neofact.html

JPL near earth asteroid tracking page. Interesting but no 2000 MN4 
information.

        http://neat.jpl.nasa.gov/

Torino scale basic explanation

        http://www.kidscosmos.org/kid-stuff/torino.html



        RM 

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