Research scientist Michael Horn has trashed claims made by NASA that the so-called ‘God of Chaos’ Apophis asteroid will go past earth’s surface at a distance of 19,000 kilometres. On the other hand, Michael Horn has said he is aware of where the asteroid will hit and the damage it will cause.
Horn has stated that the 340 metre-wide asteroid will hit the Earth’s surface somewhere between the North Sea and the Black Sea. He has also stated that in the collision, ‘Aphophis’ will crack the surface of the Earth leading to the emission of toxic gases which could kill millions of people.
Horn, however was not able to offer any scientific reasons as to how his team came to such a conclusion. “There are two things we are speaking about here, a massive asteroid collision and the otherwise certain collision impact from Apophis. We know, in terms of the research time that I have, will be between the North Sea and the Black Sea, which isn’t too far from the UK,” Horn was quoted as saying by ‘Express.co.uk’
“To spell out such an impact, we have taken the trouble to illustrate this information, we have put it online in comic book form so people can have a graphic sense of what this means. The descriptive words are probably even more important because of the tremendous damage. If and when Apophis, let us say hits specifically in the area between the North Sea and the Black Sea. It will cause a crack on the Earth’s surface,” he added.
Horn has gone on to say that due to the crash with the asteroid, the planet Earth can well be hurled into space. “It (collision) will cause a massive release of gasses, there will be pieces of the asteroid and the Earth that would be hurled back into space. There is tremendous heat as a thing like that comes in meaning fires and millions of people perish in the immediate area. Then the asteroid impact produces a possibly global effect,” Horn has further stated.
NASA has stated that the asteroid which has the full name of ‘99942 Apophis – will go past Earth in 10 years, and has already begun preparations for its arrival into the solar system.
Agencies