Measuring Asteroid and NEO Impact Likelihood and Possible Destructive Force

Objects close enough to Earth to be potential threats can be rated on the Torino Scale. This scale rates an object based on its probability for impact and its kinetic energy. The scale below rates objects from 0 to 10. A zero would be for object having no likelihood of impact or those too small to reach the surface of the Earth. A ten would be for objects certain to impact and having the potential for large-scale destruction. Visit this NASA site for complete information.

Courtesy NASA - Copyrighted (see below)
Sources:
NASA Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazard web site
Torino Scale image Copyright (c) 1999 Richard P. Binzel, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Permission granted for educational reproduction via NASA web site.
Additional information can be found at the following sites:
Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazard - A very interesting and informative NASA site
Meteorite and Impacts Advisory Committee - some good images and information
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