‘Invisible’ Asteroids Could Strike Earth At Any Time

Scientists have warned that an ‘unknown number’ of space rocks could be heading for Earth, but they may be invisible to us as they are hidden in the glare of the sun

Thanks to our atmosphere these rocks are usually eliminated before they can cause much damage to the planet.

But this is not always the case…For example, the Chelyabinsk meteor that struck Russia 2013.

No one saw the Chelyabinsk meteor coming, despie it being the biggest asteroid to strike Earth in more than a century.

The space rock smashed into western Russia generating a shockwave as strong as 35 Hiroshima atomic bombs and ;eaving more than 1,600 people injured.

So how come no one detected the 60ft (19 metres)-wide meteor heading straight for us?

The answer, according to experts, is that it was hidden by the glare of our sun.

The Mail Online reports: Worst still, it will not be the only one, as they warn that an ‘unknown’ number of space rocks could be heading for Earth undetected.

‘Asteroids the size of the Chelyabinsk meteor strike Earth roughly every 50-100 years,’ warned Richard Moissl, the European Space Agency’s head of planetary defence.

‘Injuries caused by airbursts or similar events could be prevented if people are informed of an oncoming impact and its predicted effects.