Scientists accurately predict arrival of incoming asteroid

Observers quickly determined that the object spotted Monday would hit Earth. By John Johnson Jr. Los Angeles Times Posted: Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008 Scientists for the first time have been able to predict the arrival of an asteroid before it entered Earth's atmosphere. The asteroid, estimated at 6 to 15 feet in diameter, entered the atmosphere over Sudan on Tuesday morning, providing a brilliant light show in East Africa as it burned up. Scientists said it posed no threat to people on the ground, though some tiny pieces may have reached the Earth's surface. The important thing, scientists said, was not the discovery of the object, but the prediction of its trajectory. The object was first spotted Monday morning by the Catalina Sky Survey telescope near Tucson, Ariz. At the time, the object was outside the moon's orbit. Data... [read full story]