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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Asteroid Comes Close to Earth

    The asteroid 2012 DA14 may not have a scary name but, if it were to strike planet Earth, the destruction could be colossal. An asteroid that struck the Earth is blamed for ending the age of the Dinosaurs. Others have caused enormous craters on several continents.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    The asteroid 2012 DA14 may not have a scary name but, if it were to strike planet Earth, the destruction could be colossal. An asteroid that struck the Earth is blamed for ending the age of the Dinosaurs. Others have caused enormous craters on several continents. About one million such rocks are orbiting in the solar system, but such a collision is very rare. Tomorrow, 2012 DA14 will come closer to Earth than stationary GPS satellites. Phil Plait, who writes the Bad Astronomer blog for Slate.com, has more on this reassuring news and on what astronomers hope to learn.

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    Republican Split between Conservatives, Really Conservatives
    1. 0:00American Airlines-US Airways Merge, Form World's Largest Airline
    2. 8:04Pragmatism and Principle Are Dividing the GOP
    3. 43:27Asteroid Comes Close to Earth You’re reading this
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Caitlin Shamberg

      KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Phil Plait

      Slate

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    Republican Split between Conservatives, Really Conservatives
    1. 0:00American Airlines-US Airways Merge, Form World's Largest Airline
    2. 8:04Pragmatism and Principle Are Dividing the GOP
    3. 43:27Asteroid Comes Close to Earth You’re reading this
    Back to To the Point