Community Corner

Asteroid to Miss Earth by 15 Minutes Too Difficult to Chase Down but Could Be Worth Billions

Prospective asteroid miners say the rock could contain $65 billion of recoverable water and $130 billion in metals.

An asteroid the size of a cruise ship — 2012 DA14 — that will bypass our planet Friday could be worth almost $200 billion, according to prospective asteroid miners.

In relative space distances, the asteroid is cutting it close to Earth — 17,200 miles, or 15 minutes, from our planet. But miners say the asteroid's orbit makes it too difficult to chase down, according to a report posted by Fox News.  

Click here to watch Bill Nye, "The Science Guy," explain the effect an asteroid impact could have on the earth.  

Officials with Deep Space Industries, a company that plans to mine asteroids for gold, platinum and other minerals, say the rock could contain $65 billion of recoverable water and $130 billion in metals.

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What do you think about asteroid mining ventures — is there gold in them thar rocks? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. 

You might also be interested in reading: 

Find out what's happening in Barrowwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Mining Asteroids for Gold — A Promising Mission or a Potential 'Black Hole'?
  • UFO Sighting Reported over Barrow County Jail
  • NASA's Voyager 1 Reaching Interstellar Space 35 Years after Leaving Earth

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