AN asteroid with the greatest-ever chance of hitting Earth has been discovered by astronomers.
The space rock — labelled 2004 VD17 — threatens to slam into our planet with a force equivalent to ALL the world’s nukes.
It is 500 yards long and weighs nearly a billion tons.
If the asteroid hit London, it would blast a crater nearly six miles wide and a third of a mile deep.
The fireball would ignite trees and grass for 60 miles around, while the blast would destroy buildings as far away as Birmingham.
Long-term effects would be like a nuclear winter, devastating all life.
Fireball ... scene from Deep Impact
Fireball ... scene from Deep Impact
The nightmare scenario echoes the blockbuster movie Deep Impact. But don’t start panicking just yet — it is not expected to hit until May 4, 2102.
VD17 was spotted in November 2004. At the time scientists estimated there was a one-in-3,000 risk of a collision.
But now they have upgraded the danger to around one in 1,000. It is the highest risk of impact yet recorded.
Nasa expert David Morrison said: “Fortunately it is nearly a century before the close pass. This should provide time to refine the orbit.â€
Dr Morrison hopes it will show VD17 will miss — although it may confirm a date with Armageddon.
