Scientists say there is 4 percent chance asteroid could hit Mars

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The chance of a football field-sized asteroid plowing into Mars next month has been increased to 4 percent, scientists said Friday after analyzing archival data. Though still a small chance, some researchers are hoping for a cosmic smash. "I think it'll be cool," said Don Yeomans, who heads the Near-Earth Object Program at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "Usually when an asteroid is headed toward Earth, I'm not rooting for an impact." The asteroid poses no threat to Earth and is closing in on the Red Planet at 27,900 mph (44,898 kilometer).