The asteroid should reach the probably collision position with planet Mars on 30th January 2008. According to the estimations it is about 50 meters wide and in the case of impact it could create a crater of diameter at least 700 meters. Impact of as large asteroid into Mars happen according to the scientists about once in 1000 years, so for the astronomers it would be a millenium event. An asteroid of similar size caused according to current theories also so called Tunguska catastrophe in 1908 on the Earth (Siberia). The collision energy of such asteroid is about three mega tons and on the Earth it disintegrated even before impact because of the thick atmosphere and thus the above ground explosion caused even bigger catastrophe.

The estimated impact site is the area of the northern hemisphere, so there should be near also the Opportunity robot, which currently explores a crater of similar size. Moreover, there are several surveillance satellites orbiting Mars now, so by the possible impact the scientists could gather precious data.