Public Release: 7-Nov-2001 ET
Astronomical Journal
Sky survey lowers estimate of asteroid impact risk
The odds of earth suffering a catastrophic collision with an asteroid over the next century are about one in 5,000, which is less likely than previously believed, according to research published this month. Astronomers using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey found that the solar system contains about 700,000 asteroids big enough to destroy civilization. That figure is about one-third the size of earlier estimates.

Contact: Steven Schultz
sschultz@princeton.edu
609-258-5729
Princeton University

For full text of release, see
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2001-11/pu-ssl110701.php

Alex R. Blackwell
University of Hawaii