Asteroids that could lead to a DOOMSDAY are on course for Earth...but not for at least another 1.35 million years

Around 2,000 asteroids measuring 900m wide could hit in next billion years
However, the chance of Earth being struck in the near future is close to zero
Last titanic asteroid hit 66 million years ago, killing off 75 per cent of all life

By Emily Chan For Mailonline

Published: 12:15 EST, 4 February 2017 | Updated: 13:19 EST, 4 February 2017

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Asteroids that could wipe out humanity are on path to hit Earth - but we should be safe for another 1.35 million years.

There are around 2,000 known asteroids that could strike our planet in the next billion years, according to experts.

However, the chance of Earth actually being hit by one of these in the near future is close to zero.

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Asteroids from the outer reaches of the solar system could be sent towards Earth by the star Gliese 710 - but only in 1.35million years

EARTH'S THREE 'CLOSE SHAVES' THIS YEAR

January 8th - Asteriod 2017 AG1 flew by Earth at a distance of 126,461 miles (203,520km)

January 24th - Asteroid 2017 BX flew by Earth at a distance of 162,252 miles (261,120km)

January 30th - Asteroid 2017 BH30 flew by Earth at a distance of 40,563 miles (65,280 km)

Nasa revealed earlier this month that two space rocks were heading towards Earth, although neither pose a threat to our planet.

Of all the asteroids that have been discovered, more than 1,650 are considered to be 'potentially hazardous' by Nasa - with only 157 larger than 3,000ft in diameter.

An asteroid measuring 500ft in diameter is the most likely to hit Earth, with a one in 625 chance of striking, the experts at Real Life Lore explain in a YouTube video.

But it would be more than 160 years before the asteroid hit the planet.

Another asteroid measuring 1,600ft wide has a 1 in 2,700 chance of hitting earth.

And a larger asteroid, measuring 4,200ft in diameter, is the third most likely to hit - but only has a one in 8,333 chance of striking in the year 2880.

Meanwhile, the star Gliese 710 - which will pass 77 light days from the Earth in 1.35million years - is set to send asteroids from the outer reaches of the solar system towards Earth, having a potentially catastrophic impact.

Of all the asteroids that have been discovered, more than 1,650 are considered to be 'potentially hazardous' by NASA - with only 157 larger than a kilometre in diameter

Titanic asteroids over 6.2 miles in size are capable of wiping out life on earth - but the last one known to hit was 66 million years ago.

The asteroid destroyed 75 per cent of life on earth, including the dinosaurs.

The Earth is hit on average once a year by asteroids measuring around 13ft in diameter - the size of an elephant.

Titanic asteroids over 10km in size are capable of wiping out life on earth - but the last one known to hit was 66 million years ago

Meanwhile, asteroids around 25ft in diameter - which can cause an explosion the size of Hiroshima - strike the Earth once every four years on average.

However, it is rare for these to be witnessed by humans, as 70 per cent of the Earth is water - and many of these objects explode in the upper atmosphere.

Asteroids about 66ft in diameter - or the size of a six-storey building - hit the earth on average twice every 100 years.

Titanic asteroids over 6.2 miles in size are capable of wiping out life on earth - but the last one known to hit was 66 million years ago (stock image)

REDIRECT MISSION COULD SAVE EARTH FROM AN ASTEROID

Various techniques for deflecting a potentially hazardous asteroid could be tested to enable planetary defense capabilities.

These techniques include Ion Beam Deflection, Enhanced Gravity Tractor, and kinetic impactors.

In Ion Beam Deflection, the plumes from the thrusters would be directed towards the asteroid to gently push on its surface over a wide area. A thruster firing in the opposite direction would be needed to keep the spacecraft at a constant distance from the asteroid.

The Ion Beam Deflection approach is independent of the size of the asteroid, and it could be demonstrated on either mission option.

In the Enhanced Gravity Tractor approach, the spacecraft would first pick up a boulder from the asteroid's surface as in mission Option B.

The spacecraft with the collected boulder would then orbit in a circular halo around the asteroid's velocity vector.

The mass of the boulder coupled with the mass of the spacecraft would increase the gravitational attraction between the spacecraft and the asteroid.

By flying the spacecraft in close formation with the asteroid for several months the very small gravitational forces would produce a measurable change in the asteroid's trajectory.

A kinetic impactor could also be launched as a secondary payload with the spacecraft or on a separate launch vehicle, and it would collide with the target asteroid at high velocity while the spacecraft observed the impact.

They can cause an explosion of 500 kilotons, or about 30 times the size of Hiroshima.

The last time an asteroid of this size hit was in 2013, over Chelyabinsk, Russia.

It exploded 18 miles above the ground and damaged over 7,000 buildings across six cities.

The Earth is hit on average once a year by asteroids measuring around 13ft in diameter - the size of an elephant. Meanwhile, asteroids around 25ft in diameter - which can cause an explosion the size of Hiroshima - strike the Earth once every four years on average

Asteroids about 66ft in diameter - or the size of a six-storey building - hit the earth on average twice every 100 years. They can cause an explosion of 500 kilotons, or about 30 times the size of Hiroshima