Updated 01 January 2002, 14.53

An impact this big is very unlikely (Image: Nasa/Don Davis)

			Fact File
	Near Earth Objects (NEOs)
		They are asteroids or comets which are remains of planets whose orbits bring them close to Earth
		NEOs smaller than 50m burn up before hitting Earth
		Larger NEOs get through atmosphere once every 100 years
		Asteroids made of rock
		Comets can be mix of rock, molecules & frozen gases

The centre will share information on asteroids with another centre called Spaceguard UK who also look at the risk of asteroids crashing into the planet.

Although the chance of a giant asteroid hitting the Earth is very small, it's still important for research to be done to keep an eye on comets and other objects in space.

An asteroid which is thought to have collided with Earth 65 million years ago might have caused dinosaurs to be extinct.

But experts say there are no known NEOs on course to crash into Earth and one hitting us is extremely unlikely anyway.

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	Fireball in the sky causes panic
	Clouds spoil view for meteor watchers

Web Links
	British National Space Centre
	Comet impact hazards (Nasa)
	National Space Science Centre
	Spaceguard UK
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