Interesting. I note that the authors state the asteroid is similar in size to the one that is proposed to have been responsible for the 1908 Tungusta event, and, if it impacts Mars, would likely leave a crater the size of Arizona's Meteor Crater. No crater was ever found at Tunguska, so I expect the difference in anticipated results is due to the thinness of Mars' atmosphere.

First Jupiter and then Mars - if the Mars event happens, much closer to home than is Jupiter, it might light a fire under those making budget decisions and cause them to take seriously our own so far miniscule efforts to identify and plan to divert such astronomical catastrophes.

Mike Williams

Mike W.